COLUMBIA, Mo. - After becoming the first and still only women's cross country All-American in William Woods University history last season, Mekayla Gibson, who already broke the Owls' 6k and 5k records this season, reset her 6k program-best mark a third time and made it two straight All-American placings to conclude her cross country career, taking 39th out of 326 runners at 21:48.2 in the 45th Annual NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship, hosted by Columbia College Friday at Gans Creek Cross Country Course.

"It was definitely scary because I know a lot of these schools came from all over, and I know they train in different altitudes, and they just have different training programs," Gibson said. "But to run with the best of the best, we gotta run the best we can."

Making Gibson's accomplishments even more storybook, she did it at Gans Creek, where she's raced many times and finished her high school career at Owensville with an all-state finish in the 2020 MSHSAA Class 3 Girls Cross Country State Championships. It was also where she ran her WWU 5k record time of 18:04.76 in the Brian T. Simpson Invite on Oct. 12.

"I think it's definitely special here," Gibson said. "Back in high school this was the course I got all-state on, and then getting All-American on this course for the last time, pretty special. And at home, 30 minutes away, so very special."

With all she's accomplished in four years with the Owls, Gibson is undoubtedly the program's best-ever runner. Gibson and William Woods women's cross country coach Dan Schwab explained what it's been like the past four years, running in the program for Mekayla and Schwab for coaching her.

"It's been awesome," Gibson said. "I've had very encouraging and helpful coaches and teammates just always by my side, and it's just been an awesome experience. I'm glad I got two more outdoor (track and field) seasons because I don't want to finish it here."

"From the moment she stepped on campus, she's just been a super hard worker, just a model of consistency, and pushes her teammate, great teammate," Schwab said. "Great William Woods athlete, for sure."

Unlike last season, Gibson had an entire group of teammates competing with her at nationals. The Owls placed 28th out of 35 teams with 715 points, a top-five total time of 1:58.55.5 and a top-five average of 23:47.1.

"Getting here as a team is great," Schwab said. "The nailbiter meet at the AMC, to win by two (points), to get here as a team is phenomenal. They should be really proud just making it here. Obviously, Mekayla Gibson getting into the top 40 (required placing for an All-American finish) again big day for her - two-time All-American. But yeah, for the team, three freshmen on there and a sophomore that's never ran here before, good experience today."  

While Gibson's performance received the most attention, she wasn't the only William Woods runner to have a memorable nationals display. Outside of Gibson, the only returning nationals qualifier from last year, Crystal Ruden naturally joined her All-American teammate in the top 100, finishing 73rd. Not only that, Ruden ran a personal record 22:28.3, 15.9 seconds faster than her previous at the American Midwest Conference Championships two weeks ago.

"I know it's there with Crystal (to be an All-American), it's just gonna take the right day," Schwab said. "Finishing top 100, that's great. Placing 73rd today and qualifying for the marathon that's big. Looking for her to make a push and hit that Boston Marathon qualifier in December."

Hailey Gerard also clocked in with a PR for the Owls, reaching the finish line in 24:03 - 11.4 seconds ahead of her previous set at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic on Oct. 26 -  to take 238th. Freshman Amy Schreck became the fourth and final WWU runner to cross the finish line with a PR, her third straight to begin her college career, with a time of 25:47.8 to finish 295th, 25.1 seconds quicker than her previous at the AMC Championships.

Rounding out the Owls' showings, AMC Newcomer of the Year Sarah Kirby took 275th at 24:48.3, Sydney Grubb 303rd at 26:16.7 and Christian Steuck 305th at 26:29.8.

Taylor University freshman Jaynie Halterman won the individual national championship with a time of 20:24.7. The Master's University took home the team title with 92 points, a top-five total time of 1:46:46.7 and a top-five average of 21:21.4.

WWU Team Results
28 - William Woods | 715 points - 36, 67, 180, 207, 225, (232), (234)
Total time: 1:58:55.5/23:47.1 (1-5 spread 3:59.6, 1-7 spread 4:41.6)
(Full meet results here)

Meet Results
39 (36) Mekayla Gibson - 21:48.2 (PR, prev. 21:59.3) (5:50.89 mile pace)
73 (67) Crystal Ruden - 22:28.3 (PR, prev. 22:44.2) (6:01.65 mile pace)
238 (180) Hailey Gerard - 24:03 (PR, prev. 24:14.4) (6:27.05 mile pace)
275 (207) Sarah Kirby - 24:48.3 (6:39.2 mile pace)
295 (225) Amy Schreck - 25:47.8 (PR, prev. 26:12.9) (6:55.16 mile pace)
303 (232) Sydney Grubb - 26:16.7 (7:02.91 mile pace)
305 (234) Christian Steuck - 26:29.8 (7:06.42 mile pace)