GULF SHORES, Ala. – Kate Bouvatte won the national title in the marathon and two more Cougars became NAIA All-Americans on the final day of NAIA competition for the Cal State San Marcos track & field teams during the NAIA Outdoor National Track & Field Championships on Saturday at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

The CSUSM women tied for 28^th with 10 total team points, while the men finished 31^st with nine total team points. 

Bouvatte won the marathon in a time of 2:59:23, a full two minutes ahead of the runner-up. With the victory, Bouvatte became the third Cougar to win the NAIA marathon national championship (Cara Rumble, 2004; Juan Mejia, 2008) and fourth overall to win an individual NAIA national championship (Dallon Williams - 3000m steeplechase, 2008). The victory earned the Cougars 10 team points, their lone points of the competition.

The win also gives Bouvatte her third NAIA All-America honor this year, having earned two during the indoor season (3000m, DMR). It has been a stellar outdoor season for Bouvatte, who set school records in the 10,000m (34:41.07) and 5000m (16:33.86).

Daniel Ybarra earned All-American honors with a fourth place finish in the marathon with a time of 2:36:23.8. Ybarra joins David Kloz (2000, 2001) and Mejia (2007, 2008) in taking home All-American honors in the men's marathon. With the fourth place finish, Ybarra added five points to the men's team total.

Justin Washington earned his second All-America nod of the weekend, finishing eighth in the 800m with a time of 1:53.34 and earning one team point for the men.

Ryan Maize closed out a fantastic season, taking home All-American honors with a seventh place finish in the 3000m steeplechase (9:19.42). The result added two more points for the men's squad. Maize set the school record in the 3000m steeplechase earlier this season with a time of 9:01.38.

Overall, seven student-athletes will take home All-American honors. The men's 4x800m relay of squad Fereon Meferia, Alex Gronotte, Luis Vasquez and Washington finished eighth overall with a time of 7:39.02 yesterday.

The Wayland Baptist women and Concordia (Neb.) men won the team titles, ending the two-year championship runs of the Indiana Tech women's and men's teams.

Natalie Rodriguez (4:40.93) and Charlotte Kuzminsky (4:46.87) capped off a successful weekend, finishing 11^th and 12^th, respectively, in the 1500m final. In yesterday's 4x800m final, Kuzminsky, Rodriguez, Salena Gallardo and Cristen Lane set a new school record with a time of 9:05.03.

Bethany Gracia completed the marathon in 3:32:59, placing 25^th overall in a field of 45 runners.

Melissa Olmos tied for 14^th in the high jump with a leap of 1.6m.

Enrique Ramirez finished 10th in the marathon with a time of 2:42:00.9, 2:23 shy of an All-American spot.

Steven Ing closed out the day for the Cougars, running the 5000m final in 15:21.53 to finish 13^th place.

Today's competition was the final NAIA event for the Cal State San Marcos Department of Athletics. All 14 programs will compete in NCAA Division II starting next season.