Submitted photo: Ex-St. Edmond standout Riley Mayer was a national qualifier in the 5,000-meter run for Wartburg College. She placed 10th.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Riley Mayer capped off her indoor track season recently for Wartburg with a strong showing at nationals.

Mayer, a St. Edmond graduate, finished ninth in the women’s 5,000-meter run. The Knights were sixth overall at the NCAA Div. III National Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Mayer clocked a time of 17:11.76, just missing out on All-American honors, which go to the Top-8 finishers in each event.

“I was shooting for the Top-8 to be an All-American, but I came out of the race with a personal record, some confidence and encouragement for the upcoming outdoor season,” Mayer said. “We’re right into training for outdoor and it’s going to fly by.”

The junior qualified for nationals at the December GVSU Holiday Open. She qualified with a time of 17:23.26 after leading Wartburg with a 17:15.28 on a banked track in the first heat of the event.

“I just want to continue dropping time,” Mayer said, “and secure a Top-8 finish in the outdoor 5K and the 10K.”

In the men’s 3,000, former South Central Calhoun standout Spencer Moon finished 10th. Moon, a junior for Simpson, clocked a time of 8:24.58 in his third consecutive NCAA championship meet.

This past fall, Mayer helped the Knights qualify for the NCAA Div. III Cross Country National Championships after placing second at regionals. Wartburg would finish fourth at nationals, as Mayer earned All-American status.

While competing for St. Edmond, Mayer was a four-time state cross country qualifier.

The outdoor season for Wartburg begins March 25-26 at the Texas Relays. The Knights will compete in Dubuque at the American Rivers Conference Championships May 12-14 with the NCAA Div. III National Outdoor Track and Field Championships set for May 25-28 in Geneva, Ohio.