The Missouri State cross country team will head out for its final race of the season when it tackles the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Oklahoma State on Friday.
 
The Bears will face over 30 teams from across the Midwest in a 6-kilometer race. Last season, MoState finished 29^th out of 33 teams with an average time of 22:50.14. Fellow Missouri Valley Conference opponents UNI, Drake, Illinois State, UIC, Bradley and Southern Illinois are included within the Midwest region.
 
MSU finished fifth in the MVC Championship after being picked to finish eighth in the preseason and prechampionship polls. The Bears finished the race with an average time of 22:06.0. Seven Bears set new personal records at the championship.
 
In every race this season, the Bears have posted an average time faster than the previous race. MSU raced in its first 6-kilometer event at the Evansville Angel Mounds Invitational where the team had an average time of 22:19.5. The Bears shaved off 13.5 seconds at the MVC Championship.
 
Mia McLain led the Bears across the finish line in four of the team's five races this season. At the conference meet, she finished 16^th with a time of 21:43.2. Mary Margaret Harris, Margo Nea, Madilyn Moore and Emily Nuttall rounded out the score for the Bears for a total of 142 points.
 
The NCAA Midwest Regional will start at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Okla. Live timing will be available.