MARION, Ind. - William Woods University gears up for the 44th Annual NAIA Women's Track & Field National Championships, Wednesday through Friday at Wildcat Stadium, as it has a program-best three track event qualifiers: Anna Hart (5,000-meter race walk), Mekayla Gibson (10,000 run) and Hailey Gerard (1,500 run). The entirety of the meet can be streamed live on the NAIA Network.

Gerard will begin the action for the Owls, competing in the 1,500 prelims at 2:50 p.m. CST Wednesday (1,500 final is at 1 p.m. Friday), and in the nightcap women's race on Wednesday, Gibson takes the starting line for the 10k final at 7:20 p.m. Hart represents WWU on Thursday in the 5k racewalk final at 3:45 p.m. CST. 

Of the Owls' three qualifiers, Hart had the most extraordinary path to nationals, easily breaking William Woods's 12-year-old 5k race walk record with an NAIA "B" Standard time of 29 minutes and 33.56 seconds (Richelle Perkins's 35:30.28 was WWU's previous best) in the Viking Classic on April 25. The freshman from St. Peters did that two months after she learned and started training for the event.

"Unfortunately, I was unable to compete during indoor season because I found interest in race walking too late and there weren't many opportunities," Hart said. "However, I took initiative and my coaches, family and myself included found as many opportunities possible during outdoor season. I was able to race officially in March, and I proved myself to my coaches that I was capable of becoming a race walker.

"After this, I became very determined and motivated to hit NAIA national standard because I felt like I was finally thriving and that I had found my groove. Throughout the journey, meets got cancelled, and the AMC wasn't allowing me to compete and earn points for my team during conference, so that only fueled my fire of determination. I have faced a lot of adversity during my training, but that has only made me stronger and has allowed me to build more confidence within and truly believe I can do hard things. I wouldn't be here today, competing at nationals as a freshman if it wasn't for my family, friends and coaches who believed in me and pushed me to get what I deserve."

As is the case for all events, the top eight placers are All-American in the 5k race walk. Hart's 29:33.56 seeds her 16th out of 20 competitors, 2:46.86 away from the No. 8 seed's time.

"My goal is to have fun and enjoy the experience, really take it all in," Hart said. "I am a freshman, so this is an exciting opportunity for me to participate in. I need to remember that race walking is unique and to smile throughout my race because not very many people can do what I have been preparing to do." 

With it being her first collegiate season and a new event, Hart has an exciting opportunity to compete against the NAIA's best.

"I hope I gain some knowledge over race walking as a sport," Hart said. "I am very new to the event, and I still have so much more to learn and develop from. I am excited to have competition and be able to work off of other athletes to push me to success.

"...Make something your own. Race walking isn't 'normal' and is not very popular, and that is why I was attracted to it. I am what you call a mediocre runner, so I wanted to make something my own, and that's exactly what I did with race walking. It's my niche!"

Although competing in a national competition won't be new for Gibson, without a doubt, the best-ever long-distance runner at William Woods, the 10k is 4k further than her previous longest distance at a national championship. Gibson ran the 6k at two NAIA Cross Country Championships (2023-24), 5k five times (2023-25 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships and 2021-22 NAIA Cross Country Championships) and 3k once in 2024 at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

"With one more outdoor season left after this, from this experience, I hope to gain more knowledge about how to race, especially in a 10k," Gibson said. "Even though I have been running for so long, there are always still opportunities to learn. With this being my first time at outdoor nationals, I am just soaking everything in and already looking forward to doing this again next year."

Since the 10k is an atypical event for regular season meets, Gibson, while student-teaching, prepared to clock an NAIA Standard in her only opportunity to run the distance this season. Gibson did precisely that at the WashU Distance Carnival on March 27, hitting the NAIA "B" Standard with her fourth straight school record time, 36:52.22, overtaking Cheryl Held (37:10.57 in 2010) at the top of WWU's all-time women's 10k leaderboard.

"After a very successful indoor season, I was very confident in how my training was going and knew I would easily hit 10k standard at WashU," Gibson said. "Once I hit standard, for the rest of the season, I made sure to maintain fitness and enjoy the process."

Gibson is seeded 18th out of 22 runners; her 36:52.22 puts her 57.38 seconds away from the All-American top eight.

"My goal for nationals is to place well and have fun doing so," Gibson said. "With nationals, you are racing the best of the best. If I place myself strategically in the race, great things will come.

"...My teammates this season have been absolutely amazing," Gibson said. "With how crazy this season has been, they were my why. Why do I push myself? Because they look up to me and support me all the way beyond the finish line. I am very thankful for everything I have been blessed with, including them."

While Gibson and Hart knew well in advance that they would be taking the track for nationals, Gerard didn't find out until a week before, and just five days ahead of the 409-mile van ride to nationals.

For NAIA National Championships qualification, an "A" Standard guarantees a spot in an event, while each team can have up to three with a "B" Standard time/mark go to nationals. Even though Gerard didn't have an NAIA Standard result, she earned the exciting last-minute chance to compete in her first track and field national championships, outdoor or indoor, due to a minimum-entry limit - every event needs 20 entries.

The Owls used Gerard's All-American Midwest Conference honor time of 4:57.74, posted at the AMC Outdoor Championships just under three weeks ago, as her national-qualifying entry.

"This season I relied heavily on my friends, family and teammates," Gerard said. "I had to be very self-disciplined and learn it's okay to reach out for support in order to achieve my goals. This outdoor season, I focused mostly on the 5k and getting under the 18-minute mark as much as possible. In addition to the 1,500, but not having many chances to prove myself in the event."

Gerard is seeded 20th out of 20 overall and 10th out of 10 in Heat 2. The top four times in each of the two heats and the next four fastest in Wednesday's prelims advance to Friday's final.

"I feel unbelievably blessed and excited to have the opportunity to be added to the 1,500 at nationals, without hitting the standard mark," Gerard said. "While I am well aware of my current standing in the event, I want to use this as a learning experience and a chance to get a personal record. I love racing and pushing myself to the best of my abilities. Not many people get these kinds of opportunities, and I won't take it for granted."

The NAIA outdoor track and field championships are set to be held at Wildcat Stadium for the third straight year.