The Missouri State cross country team will head to Wichita, Kan. on Saturday, Oct. 30, to compete in the 2010 State Farm MVC Championship. Last season, the Bears took fifth-place in the meet, but junior Terry Phillips won the individual title.

This season, Missouri State was voted third in the pre-championship coaches poll. They will be led by the defending champion, Terry Phillips, freshman Leah Nichols and sophomore Emily Beaver. Nichols holds the fastest 5K time for Missouri State this season, crossing the line in 17:20.71 at the Chile Pepper Festival. That time is the second-fastest 5K time in school history, as well as second-fastest in the Valley this season.

Only nine women have broken the 18 minute threshold in the Valley this season. Three of these women are Missouri State athletes. Nichols's 17:20.71, Beaver's 17:49.43 and Phillips' 17:51.31 are second, fifth and sixth, respectively in the Valley top times this season. Lisa Imgrund's time of 18:54.92 and Maggie Sutor's time of 19:00.45 round out Missouri State's top five times for the season.

The race is slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. at the RAFT Golf Course in Augusta, Kan.