Cross Checking the Bears
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State cross country is set to toe the line at the 2025 Conference USA Cross Country Championships on Saturday morning at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. The meet, hosted by Middle Tennessee and the Huntsville Sports Commission, will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 9:04 a.m. CT with the women's 6K race.
The Bears enter the postseason coming off a strong fall campaign that has featured standout performances and record-book marks. Most recently, Missouri State turned heads at the Bradley Pink Classic, where the Bears finished third in a highly-competitive field in both the Red and White Races. In Peoria, the team showcased exceptional depth in its first 6K race of the season, placing five runners among the program's all-time top 20 performers.
At the Bradley Pink Classic, Missouri State's frontrunners delivered a historic showing, led by
Tabitha Fox, who placed 16th overall with a time of 21:03.94, the fastest 6K by any Bear this season and the fifth-best mark in school history.
Ella Cronhardt followed with a 21:24.74 to finish 34th and rank 10th all-time, while
Elsa Henry clocked 21:26.57 for 38th place to rank 11th all-time.
Madilyn Moore (21:27.57) and
Amy Gotfredson (21:38.41) also joined the program's all-time 6K list at 12th and 18th, respectively. The collective effort not only earned the Bears a third-place team finish but also stood as one of the most complete and record-setting performances in program history.
Historically, Missouri State has enjoyed conference success, boasting four individual league champions was from its Missouri Valley Conference era. Casey Owens captured titles in 2002 and 2004, followed by Pasca Cheruiyot in 2008 and Terry Phillips in 2009. Under head coach
Jordan Fife, the Bears' best MVC Championship finish to date is third (2017), with additional top-five placements in 2015 and 2018.
With a mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent, the Bears look ready to make a statement on Saturday as they chase their first-ever Conference USA title.
#WeAreMoState
