ROLLA, Mo. - Crystal Ruden opened her outdoor season in a big way for Wiliam Woods University, winning the women's 5,000-meter run in the Miner Invitational, hosted by NCAA Division II Missouri University of Science and Technology Friday and Saturday at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.

Reaching the finish line in a personal record 18 minutes and 54.67 seconds - 50.56 seconds better than her previous best - Ruden won the 15-competitor 5k by 1:29.02. Joining the Owls' gold medalist in the top five for WWU were Hailey Gerard in third at 20:32.1 and Sarah Kirby, competing in her first collegiate outdoor meet, in fifth at 20:53.65.

"These young women make my job so much easier due to their dedication and commitment to their craft," William Woods track and field coach Anthony Stockton said. "We will make a deep run at the conference level, and I'm excited to see what we do next."

The Owls stood out in another long-distance race, with Christian Steuck receiving silver in the 3,000 steeplechase at 14:53.31.

Rounding out Wiliam Woods' five medalists, the Owls' 4x400 relay team of Steuck, Myra Baker, Rylie Bales and Gerard finished fourth at 4:36.03.

William Woods next competes in the CMU Invite, hosted by future conference opponent Central Methodist University, beginning the first day at 10 a.m. Friday and the final day at 9 a.m. Saturday at Davis Field & Hairston Track in Fayette.

Results

100-Meter Dash
T-21st Madison Dixon 13.23
31st Jesse Gresham 13.73 (First Collegiate Meet)

1,500-Meter Run
6th Hailey Gerard 4:50.33
14th Crystal Ruden 5:00.82 (PR, prev. 5:13.39)
36th Sarah Kirby 5:25.24 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)
44th Anna Hart 6:26.64 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)

4x100-Meter Relay
9th De'Prisha Chatman, Jesse Gresham, Rylie Bales and Madison Dixon 52.03

400-Meter Dash
18th Rylie Bales 1:07.81 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)

800-Meter Run
8th Myra Baker 2:28.54

200-Meter Dash
20th Madison Dixon 26.5 (PR, prev. 27.28)
41st Rylie Bales 29.25 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)

4x400-Meter Relay
4th Christian Steuck, Myra Baker, Rylie Bales and Hailey Gerard 4:36.03

Shot Put
16th Allison Kenneavy 9.97m (32-8.5) 

Discus
14th Allison Kenneavy 32.88m (107-10) (PR, prev. 31.65m [103-10])

Long Jump
T-22nd Heidi Baranauskas 4.85m (15-11)
28th Jesse Gresham 4.59m (15-0.75) (First Collegiate Meet)
30th De'Prisha Chatman 4.47m (14-8) (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)

Triple Jump
7th De'Prisha Chatman 10.12m (33-2.5) (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)
9th Jesse Gresham 10.05m (32-11.75) (First Collegiate Meet)

Hammer Throw
18th Allison Kenneavy 33.28m (109-2)

Pole Vault
10th Esther (El) Reagan 2.85m (9-4.25) (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)
12th Ashley Strode 2.7m (8-10.25)

5,000-Meter Run
1st Crystal Ruden 18:54.67 (PR, prev. 19:45.23)
3rd Hailey Gerard 20:32.1
5th Sarah Kirby 20:53.65 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)
6th Tara Lowe 20:58.87
8th Sydney Grubb 21:09.19 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)
9th Amy Schreck 21:09.41 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)
14th Kyah Weirich 21:46.87

Javelin
10th Lexi Clifford 33.92m (111-3) (PR, prev. 33.9m [111-3])
21st Christian Steuck 26.55m (87-1) (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)

3,000-Meter Steeplechase
2nd Christian Steuck 14:53.31 (First Collegiate Outdoor Meet)