MARION, Ind. - Both experienced cross country nationals runners, William Woods University's Hailey Gerard outpaced her seeding by four positions and Mekayla Gibson completed another legendary chapter as an Owl, in the 44th Annual NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships Wednesday at Wildcat Stadium.

Gerard opened the action for William Woods, placing 17th out of 21 overall and eighth out of 11 in Heat 1 of the 1,500-meter run prelims with her time of 4 minutes and 53.92 seconds.

"I would first like to thank my friends, team and my family for all the support they have shown me," Gerard said. "This sport can really get to you, and I have several people in my life who lift me up. Overall, this experience was amazing, and I am so thankful I was given this opportunity.

"The weather was definitely a negative today, and I could see that with other runners as well. With the wind blowing against me throughout the race, I ran as hard as I could as the lactic was building up. I tried to pass as many girls as I could, knowing that if I didn't hit a PR, at least I could place higher than what I was seeded.

"My overall time, 4:53, isn't awful considering these conditions, and I know I have more to give in the future. I haven't been super lucky with the weather conditions/circumstances each time I've raced the 1,500 this season, but that only makes me want to strive towards my goals even more."

A bit under five hours later, Gibson put her long-distance running skills to the test, with the 10k she would race being 4k further than her first eight nationals events across cross country and indoor track and field. While it was Gibson's first outdoor track and field nationals appearance, familiar faces were among the 21-competitor final field.

With all those factors, Gibson gave it her all and placed 17th at 37:21.4, wrapping up a campaign where she advanced to nationals with her fourth straight school record time.

"Honestly, I enjoy this a lot better than the 5k, short, I guess," Gibson said. "Yeah, I just feel like the 10k is my sweet spot. And, I know these women are loaded. It's great to know that I'm winding up to compete with them, I'm part of the best of the best.

"...It's cold, wet and windy, but this is a really great learning experience, and I hope to come back next year and maybe get another shiny medal."

For all Gibson did this season, it was made to be possibly more impressive than any other season, as she did it while student-teaching at South Callaway and needed just one opportunity to punch her ticket to nationals in the 10k.

"There's a lot of long nights because you come back from teaching all day, and then oh I have a workout that's going to take two hours, and then I still gotta go lift weights and get ready to shower and go to bed and do it all over again," Gibson said. "It was a lot, but in a way it felt good to accomplish all that in one season."

On top of all she did individually, Gibson joined Gerard and Anna Hart as a WWU-best three women's track athlete national qualifiers at the NAIA outdoor track and field national championships.

"Being a part of a program-best three women's track event qualifiers for the first time is amazing, and I can't wait to see how this team continues to improve," Gerard said.

"I think this year we had a great team atmosphere, and with them having our back all the time, it really pushed us to really get our goals," Gibson said. "And so having three of us go is pretty awesome because I didn't want to go alone."

While Gibson and Gerard already had national competition experience before this year, freshman, first-time national qualifier Hart, the highest-seeded Owl, 16th, will take part in the 5,000-meter race walk final at 3:45 p.m. CST Thursday.