AUGUSTA, Kan. – The Missouri State cross country team earned a second-place finish at the J.K. Gold Classic on Saturday (Sept. 7).  The four-kilometer race featured three top-10 finishers for the Bears in the meet that included 149 runners.
 
"As a whole, today was a better showing for us", head coach Jordan Fife said.  "The team was able to execute the race plan very well and it allowed them to work together through the tough parts of the race."
 
Host Wichita State took home top team honors with 18 points, followed by Missouri State (39), Emporia State (105), Friends (118), and Cowley College (132) to round out the top five in the 15-team competition.
 
Erica Wollmering set the pace for MSU as she earned a seventh-place finish with a time of 14:38.1, knocking one second off of her personal best 4k time.  Grace Breiten (14:38.3) and Edna Dar (14:49.7) finished right behind Wollmering with an eighth and ninth-place finish, respectively. 
 
"Erica and Grace really worked well together up front", said Fife.  "Edna did a great job of controlling her pace and had a great last 1k of the race."
 
The Bears placed two more runners in the top-15 as Adyson Delaney (13th) finished with a time of 15:04.7, followed by Shelby Palmer (14th) at 15:09.2.
 
Missouri State will return to action in two weeks with the Missouri Southern Stampede on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Joplin, Mo.
 
For more information on the Missouri State cross country team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or visit the team Twitter @MSUBearsTrackXC and Facebook.

Missouri State Individual Finishers
7. Erica Wollmering (14:38.1)
8. Grace Breiten (14:38.3)
9. Edna Dar (14:49.7)
13. Adyson Delaney (15:04.7)
14. Shelby Palmer (15:09.2)
22. Jordyn Capra (15:38.1)
24. Paityn Stagner (15:42.4)
25. Lindsey Biesemeyer (15:45.5)
30. Ashley Rolewicz (15:52.4)
43. Emily Yaeger (16:12.1)
52. Natalie Clayton (16:30.7)
53. Riley Lourens (16:34.7)
89. Melissa Wolk (17:44.5)
 
Team Scores
1. Wichita State- 18
2. Missouri State- 39
3. Emporia State- 105
4. Friends- 118
5. Cowley College- 132
6. Butler CC- 203
7. Tabor- 247
8. York (Neb.)- 267
9. Avila- 270
10. Cottey College 294
11. Kansas Wesleyan- 302
12. Southwestern (Kan.)- 307
13. Pratt CC- 321
14. McPherson- 357
15. Ottawa- 380