MARION, Ind.- Two members of the Ave Maria University women's track and field team competed this week in the 2023 NAIA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship, held on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. Theresa Long ran in the 1500 meters, and Caitlyn O'Brien competed in the long jump, marking a stellar end to Ave Maria's first season sponsoring track and field.

Theresa Long ran in the semifinals of the 1500 meters, marking her third (cross country, indoor track, outdoor track) appearance at a national championship event this season. Long ran the 1500 meters in a time of 4:52.41, good for 14th place in the nation. The Sun Conference champion in the event just missed out on qualifying for the finals, which features the top 12 competitors from the semis. The national champion was Huntington's Addy Wiley, who finished more than eight seconds ahead of her nearest competition in the finals.

Caitlyn O'Brien competed on the first day of the competition, and was one of 29 jumpers to earn qualification into the national championships. The Wisconsin native recorded a jump of 5.27 meters, good for 22nd overall. O'Brien's jump was third among all freshmen in the field, and was less than ten inches away from an All-American finish in the top eight. The winning jump was provided by William Carey's Machaeda Linton, who checked in at 5.90 meters.

British Columbia ran away with the team title in women's track and field, scoring 104 points to easily outpace second place William Carey, who finished with 71 points. The Thunderbirds made their mark in the distance events, scoring 74 points in events of 800 meters or longer. 

British Columbia won four individual titles on the week, claiming victory in the pole vault, 5000 meters, 5000 meter race walk, and the 4x800 meter relay. The Most Outstanding Performer of the Championships was Hannah Antkoviak of Olivet Nazarene University, while William Carey's Machaeda Linton earned Most Valuable Performer honors.

The 2023 NAIA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship marks the end of the first season of the track and field program under the direction of head coach Alan Webb. The Gyrene program posted an encouraging opening season, winning six conference championships across the indoor and outdoor seasons. Long qualified for both national championship events, and O'Brien joined her in the spring to mark a third national qualifier in the inaugural season.