SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State cross country is slated to compete in four regular season meets in 2023, head coach Jordan Fife announced today (July 26).
 
The Bears will open the season with a trip to Columbia, Mo. for the Missouri XC Opener. The five-kilometer race held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 1 at 9 a.m.
 
A couple of weeks later, the team stays in its home state as the Bears head to the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin on Friday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
 
In the final meet of September, Missouri State will compete in the Chile Pepper Festival, hosted by the University of Arkansas, for the third consecutive season. The five-kilometer contest is set for Friday, Sept. 29 at Agri Park in Fayetteville, Ark. with a start time of 4:30 p.m.
 
"With 12 newcomers on the roster, most of the meets will seem brand new, although there is some familiarity on our schedule this fall with the first three meets. We've also competed in Stillwater recently," said Fife.
 
MSU closes out the regular season with a trip to the Angel Mounds Invitational in Evansville, Ind. The race will be held on Friday, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m., and it will mark the Bears' first 6K of the season.
 
To kick off postseason action, Missouri State will travel to Nashville, Tenn. as Belmont will host the 2023 MVC Championships at Vaughn's Creek Cross Country Course on Friday, Oct. 27.
 
"The main focus will always be the conference championship, which will be hosted by Belmont for the first time in conference history. We'll have a good mix of youth and experience working together to improve as the season progresses," finished Fife.
 
The Bears will then compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Oklahoma State University on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course.
 
MSU returns nine runners from a season ago and welcomes 12 newcomers, as Fife enters his 10^th season as the head cross country coach.