CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Missouri State women's cross country team finished seventh in its final Missouri Valley Conference on Friday morning at Northern Iowa.
 
The Bears finished the 6-kilometer race with 182 points. At the 1-kilometer marker, the Bears were in fourth place, but they were passed by the 2-kilometer marker and were unable to make up the lost time down the stretch. Mary Margaret Harris led the Bears across the line for the third time this season with a personal record of 21:06.5 in 22^nd place in a field of 100 competitors. Tabitha Fox was right behind her in 30^th place with a time of 22:24.9 for a personal best. Both Bears recorded the same number of points as their finish.

With their finishes, Harris is now the fifth fastest Bear in school history in the 6k and Fox in the ninth.
 
Ella Cronhardt was the third scorer to finish in 44^th place with a personal record of 22:02.0 and 42 points. Emily Nuttal recorded the same time in 45^th place for 43 points. Lena Singleton was the final scorer in 47^th place with a personal record of 22:03.4 and 45 points.
 
Two more Bears set personal bests on the course. Addysen Clark finished with a time of 22:18.3 and Grace Spoonhour with a time of 22:20.5.

"I'm very proud of the effort today," head coach Jordan Fife said. "The team was locked in and executed the race plan. That was a really strong effort to just come away with seventh which speaks to the strength of the conference this year. We also put two on the all-time top-10 list today. Mary Margaret is now the fifth fastest performer in school history and Tabi is now ninth."
 
The Bears have two weeks to rest before competing in the NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 15. Fellow MVC school Bradley will act as this year's host in Peoria, Ill.
   
Individual Results (100 runners)
22. Mary Margaret Harris (22) – 21:06.5 – PR
30. Tabitha Fox (30) – 21:24.9 – PR
44. Ella Cronhardt (42) – 22:02.0 – PR
45. Emily Nuttall (43) – 22:02.0 – PR
47. Lena Singleton (45) – 22:03.4 – PR
53. Adrien Martens – 22:16.1
55. Addysen Clark – 22:18.3 – PR
56. Grace Spoonhour – 22:20.5 – PR
78. Britta Foust – 23:10.8
 
Team Results
1. Bradley – 42
2. Indiana State – 66
3. Belmont – 85
4. Drake – 99
5. UNI – 117
6. Illinois State – 126
7. Missouri State – 182
8. UIC – 226
9. Murray State – 263
10. Southern Illinois – 274
11. Valparaiso – 287
12. Evansville - 377