GENEVA, Ohio – Gustavus senior sprinter and horizontal jump specialist Megan Geraets (Mankato, Minn.) began competition at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships held on Thursday, May 22, at the SPIRE Institute.

Geraets started her day in the field as the 20th seed in the long jump. She bettered her entry by one spot, finishing 19th overall with a leap of 5.44 meters in her first jump. She fouled her second mark before a distance of 5.37 meters in her final collegiate jump. 

Geraets graduates with the school record outdoor mark of 5.91 meters, which she set at the Bethel Invitational on April 12. The qualifying mark for finals (top-nine) was 5.74 meters. Loras senior Emma Seipel won the national title with a distance of 6.15 meters, which she achieved on her first jump.

"I'm extremely proud of Megan. I know it isn't how she wanted to end her jumping career, but making it to nationals to be in the top-20 in the nation is pretty special," said jumps coach Billy Visto. "It's been 10 amazing years of being her jumps coach and we've gone through a lot together. Multiple time MIAC championships, the school record holder for long jump, along with her natural ability to be a great teammate and leader for her fellow athletes. It has been a privilege to watch her grow from the little seventh grader on the runway wanting to play in the sand into the amazing woman she is now. I couldn't have asked for a better athlete to spend 10 years with."

In the 200-meter, Geraets, the fastest female runner in the event in MIAC history, missed the cut for finals by 0.05 of a second. She took fourth in her heat with a time of 24.41, which placed her 10th overall, just behind Millikin first-year De'Andranay Chism, who finished third in the final heat with a time of 24.36. 

Her time of 24.41 was 0.45 off her personal-best school record mark from the Ole Open on May 3 of this season. Geraets earned her seventh All-America honor with her 10th-place finish, as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) added the All-America second team in 2024 to include individuals placed ninth through 16th, as well as members of ninth- and 10th-place relays.

"It was definitely a tough way to start the championships in 45 degree temperatures, rain and wind," said head coach Aaron Lund. "Megan competed great today in the cold and ran a great race. She missed out on finals by one spot and .05 of a second. It wasn't the outcome we were looking for but she has another opportunity to compete tomorrow and we are excited for it."

Geraets is the top seed in the 400-meter scheduled for tomorrow, May 23, at 2:15 CT. She ran a 53.87 two weeks ago at the MIAC Outdoor Championships for the top time in Division III this season, as well as a new school- and conference record.