ALLENDALE, Mich. --- The lone Eagle took to the Grand Valley State track on Thursday night, as Lynette Ruiz competed at the 2022 NCAA DII Track and Field National Championships. The true freshman circled the track in the 10,000m run, finishing at 35:27.87 for 13th place.

25 laps and 23 competitors were in the way of Ruiz and the finish line in the long distance event. The Biola star was one of just six freshmen in the final race of the first day of competition at nationals. 

The evening schedule at Grand Valley State was pushed back due to inclement weather. Rainy and wet conditions delayed the 10,000m run from 8:50pm to 9:55pm (EST).

The Biola record-holder started in the sixth position and stuck in the back half of the main pack through the first nine laps. As the field began to spread out, Ruiz found her stride with a consistent pace of around 1:25.00 per lap. Between 3600 and 5200 meters into the race, Ruiz made a move to climb six spots in those four laps to claim the 13th spot.

Through the final 4800 meters Ruiz continued to maintain the strong pace. The freshman fell back to 14th for one lap, before jumping back to 13th at the 6800 meter mark. The best lap came in the last 400 meters, as Ruiz clocked a lap of 1:19.70 for the 35:27.87 finish.

Ruiz came up nine seconds shy of her personal-best mark and the school-record, which she set at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic at 35:18.47.

The remaining action at the NCAA DII Track and Field Championships will occur throughout Friday and Saturday.