HANNIBAL, Mo. - Mekayla Gibson picked up where she left off in her tremendous final season at William Woods University, winning her second straight American Midwest Conference individual title/AMC Women's Runner of the Year and guiding the Owls to the team championship by two points over rival Missouri Baptist University in the 6k AMC Championships Friday at Hannibal-LaGrange University.

Heading into the race, a dogfight was expected between Gibson and Cottey College's Madalenn Fee, with both winning three AMC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week awards this season. But what happened was Gibson breezing past Fee and the rest of the 62-runner field, with the Owls' conference champion clocking in at 22:03.6 to win the race by 22 seconds over the Comets' top competitor.

Who finished behind the AMC's top two runners? Another Owl did, Crystal Ruden, taking third at 22:44.18. That was Ruden's second consecutive personal record time, 17.1 seconds faster than her previous, 23:01.2. Furthermore, her third-place finish was three spots better than her first two placings at the AMC Championships.

The top two performances by WWU's runners were the difference between it and the Spartans, whose top two were fourth and fifth on the leaderboard. The Owls topped the eight-team leaderboard with 40 points, a top-five total time of 1:59:37.91 and a top-five average of 23:55.49, while Missouri Baptist was runner-up with 42 points, a top-five total time of 2:01:42.54 and a top-five average of 24:20.51.

"Women's team showed up today," William Woods women's cross country coach Dan Schwab said. "For Mekayla to win as individual champion for the second year in a row is quite an achievement. Juniors Crystal and Hailey also had strong showings, earning third and sixth place. What a way to finish out the year and qualify for nationals as a team on Nov. 22."

Along with Gibson and Ruden, Hailey Gerard earned All-AMC by taking sixth at 24:19.4. Sarah Kirby also took home an individual accolade based on her showing, winning AMC Newcomer of the Year after placing 11th and reaching the finish line with a PR of 24:44.94 (prev. 24:45.44).

William Woods' awards didn't stop there. The Owls won AMC Coaching Staff of the Year, and Kyah Weirich was their Champions of Character Team representative.

For the second time in three years, WWU will compete at nationals as a team, in the 45th Annual NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships, hosted by Columbia College at 10 a.m. on Nov. 22 at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.

AMC Women's Cross Country Season Awards
Runner of the Year - Mekayla Gibson
Newcomer of the Year - Sarah Kirby
Coaching Staff of the Year - William Woods
All-AMC - Mekayla Gibson, Crystal Ruden and Hailey Gerard
Champions of Character Team - Kyah Weirich

Meet Results
1 (1) Mekayla Gibson - 22:03.6
3 (3) Crystal Ruden - 22:44.18 (PR, prev. 23:01.2)
6 (6) Hailey Gerard - 24:19.4
11 (11) Sarah Kirby - 24:44.94 (PR, prev. 24:45.44)
19 (19) Christian Steuck - 25:45.79
22 (22) Sydney Grubb - 26:07.51 
23 (23) Amy Schreck - 26:12.81 (PR, prev. 26:31.22)
33 Kyah Weirich - 27:36.51
38 Anna Hart - 28:29.87
39 Carlee Moss - 28:48.85
46 Olivia Holman - 33:27.33

Team Scores
1 - William Woods | 40 pts - 1, 3, 6, 11, 19, (22), (23)
Total Time: 1:59:37.91/23:55.59 (1-5 Spread 3:42.19) (1-7 Spread 4:09.21)

2 - Missouri Baptist | 42 pts - 4, 5, 7, 10, 16, (26), (28)
Total Time: 2:01:42.54/24:20.51

3 - Columbia | 64 pts - 8, 9, 14, 15, 18, (20), (29)
Total Time: 2:05:25.27/25:05.06

4 - Cottey | 68 pts - 2, 12, 13, 17, 24, (25), (27)
Total Time: 2:04:00.90/24:48.18

5 - Hannibal-LaGrange | 167 pts - 30, 32, 33, 34, 38, (44)
Total Time: 2:25:08.07/29:01.62

6 - University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis | 182 pts - 31, 35, 37, 39, 40, (42), (45)
Total Time: 2:34:14.07/30:50.82

7 - Williams Baptist University | 210 pts - 21, 43, 47, 49, 50
Total Time: 3:36:41.21/43:20.25

8 - Central Baptist College | 222 pts - 36, 41, 46, 48, 51, (52)
Total Time: 3:28:23.84/41:40.77