Palmer, a sophomore from Saint Genevieve, Mo., will be competing in her fifth National Championship event.  Palmer qualified for the 2007 and 2008 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, and the 2008 and 2009 NAIA Indoor National Championships in the 3000 meter run.  Palmer will compete in the 1500 meter run at this year's Outdoor Championships.

Guidry, a senior from Lafayette, La., will be competing in his second National Championship event.  Guidry qualified for the 2008 NAIA Cross Country National Championships.  Guidry will compete in the 10,000 meter run at this year's Outdoor Championships.

When asked about their expectations for the outdoor season, both sited previous disappointments as motivation for this season.  "I definitely had more determination heading into this outdoor season than I did the last outdoor season," said Palmer.  "Last year my motivation gradually faded away throughout the outdoor season and I didn't want that to happen again this year. I wanted to hit the qualifying time for Nationals in the 1500 meter which would also break the school record of 4:48.  I was confident I could reach that mark. Thankfully, I qualified midway through the season with a time of 4:43.9 which broke the school record I was striving for."

For Guidry, a disappointing indoor season was all the motivation he needed.  "I was not satisfied with my indoor season and struggled to run fast and did not understand why I was not performing better," said Guidry.  "I pressured myself week in and week out to go for a national qualifying standard. I failed to qualify and was deeply upset because I know how hard I worked.  Not qualifying for nationals upset me. I thought about how I would approach the outdoor season, and decided to not pressure myself into running fast times.  I believed in myself and in my coach and eventually qualified for Nationals."

Head Cross Country and Track Coach Brayce Forsha, in his first season at William Woods, believes that the experience both runners have at a National Championship event will help them at the Outdoor Championships.  "This will be the first Outdoor National Championships for both Kristi and Phil," said Forsha. "Both ran at the national level in Cross Country so I feel that experience will benefit them both greatly.  I expect them both to give outstanding efforts and run their best races of the year."

Palmer again spoke about disappointments when setting her expectations for the National Championships.  "I've been to multiple National Championships, but haven't performed to my capabilities.  That is getting a bit frustrating.  I think the fact that I haven't been too successful at the past championships give me more motivation and determination to take my performance to the next level."

Palmer will compete in a field of 25 runners in the 1500 meter run.  She will compete on Thursday at 1:35 pm in the 1500 meter trials.  If she makes the final cut, she will run on Saturday at 3 pm.  "I really want to make it through prelims. That's the first step. If I do that, then I will hopefully have a memorable race on Saturday in finals."

There are no prelims for Guidry in the 10,000 meter run.  Guidry will compete in the finals at 9:20 pm on Thursday.  He will compete in a field of 30 runners.  "Qualifying for Nationals was a goal for me and I figure why should the road stop? I am currently ranked 24th in the 10k and am going to run my best to make All-American."  The senior also has his priorities in order.  "If I come up short of this goal I would not be upset.  After all, I am ranked 24th so any man I beat above that is what we would say in Louisiana as lagniappe (extra). I believe heading into this National meet that coach has prepared me to run to the best of my abilities. I am mentally ready to go for All-American and run like it is my last race."

Coach Forsha is optimistic about his developing track and field team.  "With this being our second year (of track and field), and our numbers low, we were really looking to develop the athletes we have and establish a foundation of hardworking, dedicated athletes."

Forsha also see's good things for next season.  "Our women's cross country team is looking really strong with several women returning from our conference championship team and many incoming freshman. The women's track team will be much improved with the addition of several incoming freshman.  Our men's cross country team will be very young next year. We only have two men returning from our conference championship team. The incoming freshmen are very talented and we expect to make a run at the American Midwest Conference and Nationals again. The men's track team will be much improved with the addition of several incoming freshman."

Coach Forsha understands that building a competitive track and field program takes time and patience.  If Saint Augustine was right, that "patience is the companion of wisdom", then Forsha, Palmer and Guidry are the first steps to the William Woods track and field program heading in the right direction.