FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Missouri State cross country team finished ninth with 322 points at the Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival 5k, Friday.
 
Out of a field of 35 teams, the Bears secured their top-10 finish with an average time of 18:27.0. Mia McLain led the pack of Bears with a 34^th place finish in a field of 304 runners with a time of 17:56.8.
 
Mary Margaret Harris was the second Bear to cross the finish line with a time of 18:17.9. Emily Nuttall followed closely behind with a time of 18:24.0 then Natalie Clayton followed with a time of 18:47.5. Grace Spoonhour rounded out the scoring field with a time of 18:48.6.
 
Of the 14 Bears who took to the course, eight finished with a new season-best time. Nuttall, Clayton, Spoonhour, Madilyn Moore, Mihane Nambara and Adrien Martens all set new personal records.
 
"I'm really proud of the effort from the team today," head coach Jordan Fife said. "We knew the conditions were going to be tough with the heat, but the team still ran strong and beat a long list of other D1 teams. We haven't had this much depth in a long time, and it showed today."
 
The Bears will face their first 6k of the season when they head out to the Angel Mounds Invitational on Oct. 13 in Evansville, Ind.
  Individual Results
34. Mia McLain – 17:56.8
55. Mary Margaret Harris – 18:17.9
59. Emily Nuttall – 18:24.0
97. Natalie Clayton – 18:47.5
101. Grace Spoonhour – 18:48.6
119. Madilyn Moore – 19:00.1
137. Mihane Nambara – 19:09.8
140. Adrien Martens – 19:11.8
158. Grace Buschling – 19:19.2
159. Margo Nea – 19:19.3
179. Lena Singleton – 19:31.0
180. Ella Cronhardt – 19:32.9
186. Britta Foust – 19:36.4
264. Ella Conklin – 20:59.0
 
Team Results
1. Arkansas – 20
2. SMU – 89
3. Western Colorado – 121
4. UT-Arlington – 169
5. Arkansas State – 220
6. Central Arkansas – 232
7. Lamar – 241
8. TCU – 313
9. Missouri State – 322
10. Missouri Southern – 341
11. Drury – 377
12. Nebraska-Kearney – 379
13. South Alabama – 422
14. Oklahoma Baptist – 439
15. Ouachita Baptist – 451
16. Abilene Christian – 480
17. Arkansas Tech – 499
18. Southwest Baptist – 520
19. Oral Roberts – 523
20. Little Rock – 560
21. Oklahoma – 568
22. Southern Miss – 584
23. UIW – 599
25. Stephen F Austin – 638
26. Washburn – 653
27. St. Edwards – 667
28. TAMU-Kingsville – 676
29. Union – 798
30. Tarleton State – 812
31. Missouri S&T – 815
32. Christian Brothers – 867
33. TAMU-Commerce – 885
34. Evangel – 972
Trinidad State - DNF