STILLWATER, Okla. – The Missouri State cross country team closed out its season with a 24^th place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Oklahoma State on Friday.
 
The Bears finished the race with a total of 631 points with an average time of 22:48.8. Their 24^th place finish out of 32 teams is an improvement on last year's 29^th place finish. MSU out-distanced fellow MVC programs UIC and Northern Iowa along with in-state foes Saint Louis and SEMO.
 
Margo Nea was the first Bear across the finish line with a 106^th place finish and a time of 22:29.5. This was Nea's first race this season where she led the Bears to the finish.
 
Mia McLain was the next Bear to finish the 6-kilometer course with a time of 22:38.7 and 115th place finish. Mary Margaret Harris was not too far behind in 124^th place with a time of 22:45.7. Madilyn Moore followed closely behind Harris to finish with a time of 22:48.5 in 128^th place. Grace Spoonhour was the final scoring Bear to finish with a 159^th place finish and a time of 23:21.5.
 
"We had a goal of top 20 and fell just short of that. Overall, it was a solid effort on a challenging course, but we certainly didn't have our best day," head coach Jordan Fife said. "We accomplished a lot this fall and have a lot to be proud of. With the returning group, and how recruiting is shaking out, we feel really excited for next year."
 
The Bears finished the season with multiple top-10 finishes, a fifth-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and a win at the Billiken XC Invitational earlier this season.
   
Individual Results
106. Margo Nea – 22:29.5
115. Mia McLain – 22:38.7
124. Mary Margaret Harris – 22:45.7
128. Madilyn Moore – 22:48.5
159. Grace Spoonhour – 23:21.5
164. Tabitha Fox – 23:25.2
186. Emily Nuttall – 23:53.3
 
Team Results
1. Oklahoma State – 30
2. Iowa State – 75
3. Northwestern – 155
4. Minnesota – 184
5. Kansas State – 241
6. Bradley – 265
7. Nebraska – 267
8. South Dakota – 289
9. Loyola (Ill.) – 289
10. Illinois – 302
11. Tulsa – 318
12. Missouri – 352
13. North Dakota – 365
14. Drake – 374
15. South Dakota State – 382
16. Kansas – 392
17. North Dakota State – 458
18. DePaul – 488
19. Iowa – 495
20. Wichita State – 514
21. Illinois State – 528
22. Southern Illinois – 538
23. Eastern Illinois – 553
24. Missouri State – 631
25. Saint Louis – 676
26. Creighton – 700
27. Omaha – 705
28. Illinois-Chicago – 769
29. Northern Iowa – 806
30. SE Missouri – 825
31. Oklahoma – 856
32. SIU Edwardsville - 1038