NCAA | Live results
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Allendale, Mich.----Wingate University track and field distance specialists Gemma Rebollo (Molina de Segura, Spain) and Tai Smith (Glendale, Ariz.) earned All-American honors in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Division II outdoor national championship meet Thursday night in the GVSU Track and Field Stadium on the campus of Grand Valley State University.
 
Rebollo claimed first team All-American laurels with her eighth-place finish, posting a personal-best time of 34:33.48. The true freshman shaves 15.01 seconds from her previous PR of 34:48.49, achieved at the University of Virginia Challenge. A graduate student, Smith finished ninth with his time of 29:36.69. He earned second team All-American honors.
 
Smith and Rebollo had to endure a 56-minute weather delay which pushed back the start for a handful of events. Smith raced first, followed by Rebollo in Thursday's final event. Wingate sophomore Jakob Rettschlag (Oberkramer, Germany) also competed on day one of the NCAA championships, posting a time of 3:54.45 in the men's 1500 meter preliminaries.
 
Gemma Rebollo women's 10,000 meters notes
 
- Rebollo remains second on Wingate's career top 10 with her NCAA championship time of 34:33.48
- Rebollo was second for four consecutive laps, starting at the 800-meter mark
- Her top split was her final 400-meter lap, a time of 1:20.36
- Azusa Pacific senior Jennifer Sandoval won the women's 10,000 meters with her time of 33:35.76
- Sandoval finished second in the 2021 outdoor 10,000 meters
- Top seed and Adams State (Colo.) sophomore Brianna Robles finished second (33:37.63)
 
Tai Smith men's 10,000 meters notes
 
- Smith led for 10 of the first 11 laps in the 25-lap 10,000 meters event
- Smith holds Wingate's 10,000 meters school record with his personal-best time of 29:23.05
- He achieved his 29:23.05 at the 2022 Raleigh Relays, host by N.C. State University
- Like Rebollo, Smith saved his best for last, running his top 400-meter split (1:03.12) on the final lap
- Smith concludes his collegiate eligibility with Thursday night's 10,000 meters race
- Colorado Mines redshirt sophomore Dillon Powell won the men's 10,000 meters with his time of 28:44.97
- Top seed and Adams State (Colo.) sophomore Awet Beraki finished second (28:54.61)
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate graduate student Tai Smith:
 
"I did not obtain a new personal-best time, but I'm not upset because I went out there and gave it everything I had. I ended up finishing in ninth place, missing first team All-American by 0.38 seconds. I'm very thankful for all the support I received before, during and after the race. I got so many messages from teammates, family and coaches. I heard my coaches and teammates who were present…cheering every lap. I love these people. My track journey is officially over now."

On the horizon
 
- Graduate student Elliot Zirwas (Fort Pierce, Fla.) will compete in the men's shot put Saturday
- Zirwas is the first WU thrower to qualify for an NCAA national championship meet
- Earlier this season, he posted a career-best throw of 18.38 meters at the Charlotte 49er Classic
- Zirwas won the SAC outdoor shot put title in the 2022 league meet in Anderson, S.C.
 
Wingate University
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.