June 9, 2016

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EUGENE, Ore. -- Shelby Mills' incredible career at Gonzaga came to an end with a ninth-place finish in her semifinal heat Thursday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at historic Hayward Field.

Mills had a 10:12.81 finish in the first of two semifinal heats. The top five finishers from each heat, along with the next two fastest times moved onto Saturday's national finals. Mills placed 17th in the combined two semifinal heats.

Mills is the only GU student-athlete to ever compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. She placed 21st overall, 11th in her semifinal heat, at last year's championships in Eugene with a time of 10:39.23.

"It was just a tough day to be mentally tired," GU women's Head Coach Patty Ley said. "She just struggled to fully engage. It was not a bad race, just not the one she needed or wanted to run. She is frustrated because she knows she can be better. But, that is why they have everyone show up and run. She has had the greatest depth of career in Gonzaga history. She is an absolutely awesome human being with a wonderful heart. It's hard to say goodbye."

Mills ran the country's 12th-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time this season, 9:56.17, at the West Coast Invitational on May 12. She broke her own program record with that finish and cruised into the NCAA West Preliminaries. The Snohomish, Wash., native placed second in her heat at the prelims in Lawrence, Kan., and automatically qualified for the national semifinals. She crossed the line at 10:06.76 in that race.

Mills opened the outdoor season by winning the women's 5,000 meters at the Buc Scoring Invite with a time of 16:25.81. The time was not only a personal record by nearly 13 seconds, but it is also the third-fastest time in program history.

During the indoor season, Mills smashed the program's 5,000-meter mark at the Husky Classic. She raced to a 16:25.35 finish in the elite field at the Dempsey Center. Two weeks earlier, she snapped Lindsay Drake's three-year-old 3,000-meter mark with a 9:35.31 finish at the UW Invitational in Seattle.

Mills' track season came on the heels of a West Coast Conference individual title in cross country. She was named the conference's Runner of the Year and helped guide the Zags to the team title. Mills was then the top finisher from the WCC at the NCAA West Regionals and National Championships. She owns the program's 6,000-meter course record (20:06.1) in cross country.

"Even though I'm upset that I mentally checked out a little too early during the race, I'm proud of my season," Mills said. "I've been honored to wear the GU jersey all these years. I'm excited to watch as an alum where the team goes!"