Missouri State’s Pasca Cheruiyot made her Bears debut on the course Saturday, shattering the course record by running a time of 17:46.90.  Her solid showing in the Missouri State Cross Country Classic also earned her State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week.

Cheruiyot, a transfer from Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill., paced the Bears as they won the Missouri State Cross Country Classic for a second straight year.  A native of Kenya, Cheruiyot finished more than 20 seconds ahead of teammate Jamie Vest, who ran an 18:07.40 to finish second.  The Bears’ Terry Phillips finished third to give Missouri State a 1-2-3 finish in the home meet.

Missouri State cross country is next in action as they travel to Stillwater to compete in the Cowboy Jamboree (5K) on October 4, 2008.