University of Missouri
NCAA Midwest Championship
Women’s Cross Country Takes Fourth, Men Seventh at NCAA Midwest Regional
11/14/2025 1:00:00 PM | Cross Country
Freshman Monica Wanjiku earned an individual automatic bid to the NCAA Championship for her sixth-place finish.
Mizzou's No. 27 women's cross country team took fourth at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, while the men finished in seventh on Friday morning at Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course, as both squads earned a pair of All-Midwest Region honors.
Freshman Monica Wanjiku earned an automatic bid to compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championship individually thanks to a sixth-place finish. Four Tigers took home All-Midwest Region accolades – Wanjiku in sixth, Kobi Walker in 24th, Drew Rogers in 24th and Elijah Limo in 21st.
"We're unbelievably excited about the way our women competed today," head cross country coach Kyle Levermore said. "They showed composure, confidence and belief from the gun, and to see that level of execution at this point in the season is really rewarding. Monica and Kobi earning All-Region honors in their first regional meet was the perfect way to cap what was already a tremendous morning for our group. The men's roster is young with a ton of potential, and they'll grow from this moment. Drew and Elijah earning All-Region honors speak volumes about their leadership and heart, and I couldn't be more proud of the way they set the standard for our program."
Wanjiku led the way for the women's team in the 6k, crossing the line in 20:10.1 to take sixth. Her result marks the best individual finish for the women's team since 2017 and the sixth runner to secure a top-ten result in the last 20 years.
Her efforts earned her All-Midwest Region honors, becoming the first of the women's team to do so since 2021. Walker joined her in collecting All-Midwest Region accolades after posting a 6k time of 21:01.6 to place 24th.
Rogers paced the crew in the 10k, posting a 30:48.6 to claim 18th individually and earn All-Midwest Region honors for the second consecutive year. Limo followed in 21st, recording a personal record of 30:53.4 to tally the first All-Midwest Region award of his career.
The men's seventh-place finish marks the best team finish since 2012 and the first time that two Tiger men notched top-25 placements since 2008. This is the men's fifth time since 2010 collecting multiple all-region honors in the same year and first since 2019.
TOP TIGERS
- Junior Suzy Lecoutre crossed the finish line in 21:14.6 to take 30th and stand in the top 13 percent of the competition.
- In her regionals debut, freshman Mirriam Chepkirui posted a 21:16.1 to claim 33rd.
- Graduate Austin Popplewell recorded a 10k personal record with a 31:30.6 to take 35th.
- Sophomore Carter Spradling added a personal best of 32:25.5 to tally 67th in his regional debut.
MEN'S 10k RESULTS – 7th Place (222 points, 18-21-35-67-81)
Drew Rogers, 30:48.6 (18th) // Elijah Limo, 30:53.4 (21st) // Austin Popplewell, 31:30.6 (35th) // Carter Spradling, 32:25.5 (67th) // Tyler Freiner, 32:38.6 (81st) // Raymond Kipkoech, 33:12.4 (113th)
WOMEN'S 6k RESULTS – 4th Place (141 points, 6-24-30-33-48)
Monica Wanjiku, 20:10.1 (6th) // Kobi Walker, 21:01.6 (24th) // Suzy Lecoutre, 21:14.6 (30th) // Mirriam Chepkirui, 21:16.1 (33rd) // Rahel Broemmel, 21:39.9 (48th) // Natalie Barnard, 21:41.1 (49th) // Allison Newman, 21:54.1 (66th)
UP NEXT
The Tigers await their NCAA Championship fate, which will be announced on the 2025 DI men's and women's cross country selection show will air on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. ET live on NCAA.com.
NCAA XC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets for the 2025 NCAA XC National Championship race, set for Nov. 22 with the women racing at 9:20 a.m. and the men at 10:10 a.m. at Gans Creek Cross Country Course, are on sale now. General admission tickets are $23, and parking options range from $6-$18.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest on Mizzou Cross Country and Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the teams on Facebook, Instagram and X (MizzouTFXC).
Players Mentioned
