The Missouri State cross country squad saw its 2007 season come to a close with its 13th-place finish NCAA Midwest Regional Championship Saturday (Nov. 10) in Peoria, Ill. Senior Asher Kyger came in 44th overall with a career-best 6K run of 21:33 to lead the way for the Bears.

Junior Jamie Vest also turned in a personal-best run, finishing 54th in 21:43, while senior Carrie Vestal came in 66th with a run of 21:53. Junior Kristin Wolkey (21:59) finished 73rd, followed by sophomores Emily Fletcher (22:25) in 101st and Staci Nelson (23:41) in 149th for MSU.

With a 79-point total, Minnesota captured the team title at the 19-team event to advance to the NCAA Championship, Nov. 17 in Terre Haute, Ind., along with runner-up Illinois (91). Iowa (101), Nebraska (130) and Oklahoma State (181) rounded out the top five.

Iowa’s Diane Nukuri won the overall title for the second consecutive year, besting the field by 26 seconds with a run of 19:37.