COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri State cross country team recorded seven personal records at the Gans Creek Invitational hosted by Missouri on Friday.
 
In a field of 329 runners, MoState landed three in the top half of a field consisting of 12 Power Four teams, including four teams that made an appearance in the 2023 NCAA National Championship race.
 
Sophomore Tabitha Fox led the Bears for the first time in her career and finished in 132^nd place out of 329 runners with a time of 21:45.5 and 119 points.
 
The rest of the scoring runners finished with personal records. Mary Margaret Harris finished in 142^nd place with a time of 22:00.1 and 128 points followed by Emily Nuttall in 149^th place with a time of 22:01.9 and 134 points. Ella Cronhardt was next in 166^th place for 149 points and a time of 22:12.9. Lena Singleton was the final scorer with a time of 22:40.9 and 183 points in 209^th place.
 
Missouri State finished third out of five MVC teams competing and ahead of five of the 14 schools in the Midwest region.
 
Seven Bears were also given the opportunity to compete in the open 6k which brought three more personal records to MoState's tally. Adrien Martens finished in 58th place out of 306 runners with a time of 22:55.7. Britta Foust finished 80^th with a time of 23:24.4 and Anna Lombardo finished with a time of 24:27.5 in 151^st place in her first 6k since in almost two years. 
 
"Today's races were a much different experience than our first two meets, but I think the team really handled the challenge well," head coach Jordan Fife said. "We were down a couple of scorers from our last meet but relied on our depth to carry us through. To still come out ahead of a lot of regional teams was a good outcome for us. Our best meets are still in front of us, but this was a great step forward. Tabi ran her best race as a Bear, and it was great to see her have a breakthrough today."
 
The Bears have a three-week break before traveling to MVC Championship favorite Bradley on Oct. 18 for the Bradley Pink Classic.
   
Individual Results – DI 6k
132. Tabitha Fox (119) – 21:54.5
142. Mary Margaret Harris (128) – 22:00.1 – PR
149. Emily Nuttall (134) – 22:01.9 – PR
166. Ella Cronhardt (149) – 22:12.9 – PR
209. Lena Singleton (183) – 22:40.9 – PR
211. Addysen Clark – 22:42.0
230. Amy Gotfredson – 22:53.5
253. Grace Spoonhour – 23:08.4
 
Team Results – DI 6k
1. Stanford – 44
2. Tennessee – 91
3. Ole Miss – 120
4. Florida – 131
5. Georgia Tech – 164
6. Auburn – 182
7. Air Force – 189
8. Tulsa – 214
9. Kentucky – 243
10. Missouri – 336
11. Weber State – 391
12. Eastern Washington – 453
13. Iowa – 465
14. Northern Iowa – 501
15. Illinois State – 517
16.UC San Diego – 532
17. Central Arkansas – 563
18. UCLA – 567
19. Middle Tennessee State – 574
20. Wichita State – 587
21. Kansas State – 588
22. Southern Indiana – 628
23. Lipscomb – 668
24. South Dakota – 670
25. Saint Louis – 675
26. North Florida – 680
27. Baylor – 695
28. Missouri State – 713
29. Creighton – 871
30. Omaha – 873
31. SEMO – 877
32. Maine – 903
33. Abilene Christian – 921
34. Southern Illinois – 1005
35. SIUE – 1043
36. Valparaiso – 1051
37. North Alabama – 1065
38. Kansas City – 1185
 
Individual Results – Open 6k
58. Adrien Martens (37) – 22:55.7 – PR
80. Britta Foust (51) – 23:24.4 – PR
85. Faith Fotiades (55) – 23:27.6
91. Grace Buschling (60) – 23:31.1
107. Mihane Nambara (75) – 23:43.5
151. Anna Lombardo – 24:27.5 – PR
158. Ella Conklin – 24:32.1
 
Team Results – Open 6k
1. Fort Hays State – 40
2. Taylor – 42
3. Cumberlands – 86
4. Grace – 152
5. Indiana Wesleyan – 170
6. Cornerstone – 222
7. Washburn – 246
8. Missouri State – 278
9. South Dakota – 280
10. Goshen – 332
11. Oklahoma City – 336
12. Aquinas – 345
13. Saint Louis – 350
14. Benedictine (Kan.) – 356
15. Southern Indiana – 356
16. Spring Arbor – 445
17. Dakota State – 447
18. Emporia State – 504
19. Baker – 526
20. Cottey – 548
21. Tabor – 580
22. Northwestern Oklahoma – 626
23. Lindenwood – 686
24. Southeastern CC – 756
25. Lincoln (Mo.) – 777
26. William Jewell – 828