LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Coming up against two teams in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Rating and another receiving votes, RV William Woods women's cross country scored 86 points, 15 ahead of No. 21 Benedictine, to place third out of six teams in the 5K Saint Mary Sundown Showdown Friday at University of Saint Mary's cross country course.

Mekayla Gibson led the Owls' impressive season-opening performance, recording the fastest time outside of the host/first-place team, No. 1 Saint Mary's top three runners, to take fourth at 18:41.69, 12.56 behind the winner, Reagan Hiebert, who was also an All-American last season. Showing Gibson can compete with the NAIA's best team; she was the only runner outside the Spires' top five to record a sub-19-minute time.

Running conditions at Saint Mary were hot, with a temperature in the low-80s degrees Fahrenheit, and there were 2.5K loops with moderate hills throughout - a true cross country course. Excelling in that environment, 2023 American Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year Hailey Gerard notched a PR of 19:32.87, her first time breaking 20 minutes, to finish ninth. WWU and USM were the only squads with more than one competitor in the top 10.

The Owls head to Gans Creek Cross Country Course, the 45th Annual NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships venue, for their next two meets, beginning with Columbia's Larry Young Invitational at 5 p.m. Sep. 20 in Columbia.

Meet Results

4 (4) Mekayla Gibson - 18:41.69

9 (9) Hailey Gerard - 19:32.87 (New PR, prev. 20:16.9)

12 (12) Crystal Ruden - 19:49.13

42 (30) Sydney Grubb - 21:39.74 (First collegiate meet)

43 (31) Sarah Kirby - 21:43.42

57 (40) Kyah Weirich - 22:54.74

60 (41) Amy Schreck - 23:14.50 (First collegiate meet)

62 Christian Steuck - 23:36.51 (First collegiate meet)

Team Scores

1 - No. 1 Saint Mary | 17 pts - 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, (8), (10)

Total Time: 1:33:34.34/18:43

2 - RV Kansas Wesleyan | 63 pts - 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, (18), (22)

Total Time: 1:38:47.2/19:46

3 -  RV William Woods | 86 pts - 4, 9, 12, 30, 31, (40), (41)

Total Time: 1:41:26.85/20:18 (Split 1-5 3:01.73) (Split 1-7 4:32.81)

4 - No. 21 Benedictine | 101 pts - 14, 19, 21, 23, 24, (27), (28)

Total Time: 1:40:59.89/20:12

5 - Tabor | 142 pts - 20, 25, 26, 35, 36, (38), (39)

Total Time: 1:45:40.35/21:09

6 - MidAmeria Nazarene | 144 pts - 16, 29, 32, 33, 34, (37)

Total Time: 1:47:19.39/21:28