The Missouri Tigers delivered a standout day at the NCAA Midwest Championship on Friday at the Greiner Family XC Course in Stillwater, Okla., with the women placing fourth overall and the men earning a seventh-place
finish.
Women’s Side
On the women’s side, Kenya native Monica Wanjiku led the way for the Tigers, placing sixth overall with a finishing time of 20:10.1.
At the 1114m mark, Wanjiku sat in sixth place with a strong split of 3:24.5. Close behind, Mirriam Chepkirui held eighth at 3:24.6. Kobi Walker and Rahel Broemmel followed in 34th and 37th with splits of 3:32.4 and 3:32.9.
By 2000m, Wanjiku moved up to fifth with a 6:17.1 split, while Chepkirui slipped to 12th at 6:26.8. Suzy Lecoutre climbed to 23rd in 6:29.6, and Walker and Broemmel held 36th and 37th.
At the 2830m checkpoint, Wanjiku remained steady in sixth (9:16.1). Lecoutre continued to climb, moving to 19th (9:34.0). Walker jumped to 23rd in 9:37.6, while Chepkirui improved to 27th with a 9:38.1 split.
“I feel like our young ones or our experienced older guys, like on both sides take big steps whether it’s from time and training, or time in just being in the NCAA, kind of both things helping out there,” coach Kyle Levermore said.
Through 4000m, Wanjiku stayed in sixth (13:07.5). Lecoutre settled into 22nd (13:37.9), with Walker and Chepkirui following in 28th and 34th at 13:43.7 and 13:48.0.
At 4886m, Wanjiku maintained her position in sixth (16:05.0). Lecoutre remained 22nd (16:45.7), Walker 28th (16:55.4), and Chepkirui 32nd (17:01.7).
In the final stretch, Walker surged to finish 24th overall in 21:01.6. Lecoutre and Chepkirui crossed next for Mizzou in 30th and 33rd, posting 21:14.6 and 21:16.1. Broemmel and Natalie Barnard rounded out the Tigers’ scoring placements in 48th and 49th with times of 21:39.9 and 21:41.1.
With more than 32 teams and over 200 runners in the field, the Tigers placed all scoring athletes inside the top 70 and finished with 141 points. Oklahoma State won the women’s team title with 55 points, led by individual champion Isca Chelangat, who claimed the win in 19:48.4.
“We’re going to see courses with technical turns, and I think just throughout the year, making them aware of what purpose each training session has served, and by and large, we rate well, and so we have every reason to believe that we’re prepared,” Levermore said.
Men’s Side
On the men’s side, senior star Drew Rogers placed 18th overall with a finishing time of 30:48.6 for the Tigers.
At 2000 m, Rogers sat in 11th with a split of 5:48.9. Behind him, Raymond Kipkoech and Elijah Limo followed in 15th and 16th with splits of 5:49.2 and 5:49.6 respectively. Tyler Freiner trailed in 27th with a 5:49.6 split.
“I think Tyler has made a pretty significant step forward this season,” Levermore said.
At 4114 m, Limo surged into 5th place with a split of 12:21.7, and Rogers climbed back into 10th with a split of 12:22.0. Popplewell trailed in 33rd (12:29.8), with Freiner and Ryder James sitting 38th and 39th.
Through the 5000 m, Limo and Rogers dropped to 12th and 14th with splits of 15:00.1 and 15:01.2. Popplewell moved up to 28th (15:14.2), and James advanced to 36th (15:22.3).At 5930 m, Limo and Rogers fell to 18th and 19th with splits of 17:50.4 and 17:50.5. Popplewell dropped to 31st (18:09.3), and James to 41st (18:20.9).
By 8000 m, Rogers held 18th (24:26.6) and Limo 19th (24:28.8). Popplewell was 33rd (24:52.8) and Carter Spradling reached 61st (25:38.8). At 8886 m, Rogers improved to 17th with a split of 27:15.0, while Limo dropped slightly to 19th (27:16.9). Popplewell remained 33rd (27:46.6), and Spradling slid to 62nd (28:37.9).
In the final results, Limo placed 21st with 30:53.4, Popplewell finished 35th in 31:30.6, Spradling 67th in 32:25.4, and Freiner finished 81st.
With 31 teams competing, the Tigers scored 222 points. The men’s team title went to Oklahoma State (38 points), led by individual champion Denis Kipngetich (29:42.8). The Tigers’ placement inside the top 115 will send them into their final meet of the season.
“They’ve had a really good season, but I also don’t think that anyone internally has been totally satisfied, and I think that’s kept us hungry and kept us motivated week over week,” Levermore said.
The Tigers will next race at the NCAA Championship in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, November 22 against the top teams and individual qualifiers from the regional meets.
To read more about the Missouri Cross Country team, follow @SophBleedsLa and @RockMNation on X.com.
