Track and Field | 5/20/2021 10:23:00 AM

LA CROSSE, Wis.  Methodist senior Makayla Lawler late Wednesday night finished in second place in the 10,000-meter run at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Final Qualifier meet.

Lawler posted a time of 38 minutes, 13.55 seconds to finish behind only the event winner from Wis. - Eau Claire.

The event began with eight participants, but trimmed down to three finishers as several runners from the original field posted either mid-race distance results or pace-lap times before dropping out.

Lawler took over second place just two laps in and held that position past the 3,200 mark. Katie Faris from Eau Claire and two others grouped with the eventual race winner overtook Lawler as the field approached the 4,000 meter mark of the race.

That trio led by Faris assumed the lead at the 5,000 meter point in the race when the previous leader from La Crosse dropped.

The two University of St. Thomas (Minn.) runners accompanying Faris also eventually dropped out, after 7,600 meters, leaving Faris, Lawler and La Crosse's Jenna Lovejoy on the track.

Lawler's participation at the meet was an attempt to improve her standing on the national performance list in the 10,000. Her personal- and season-best time of 37:33.12 is third fastest in the Division III Southeast Region, and 33rd fastest on the national D-III performance list.

The NCAA will invite 19 women in each of the track events to the 2021 national championship meet.