Friday, September 11
Springfield, Mo.
9:15 p.m.
Missouri State University
vs
Queen City After Dark
Cross Country Begins 2026 Campaign at Home
September 10, 2026 | Women's Cross Country
| Missouri State at Queen City After Dark | |
| Location | Springfield, Missouri |
| Site | Betty and Bobby Allison Sports Town |
| Game Info | Friday, September 11 | Men's 6k: 9:45 p.m. | Women's 5k: 9:15 p.m. Live Stats |
| Missouri State | Cross Country Home Page Twitter | Instagram | Facebook #GoBears | #NoStateLikeMoState |
| Admission | Admission and parking are free |
| Concession | Concessions will be available on site |
| Bears Mobile App | App Store (Apple Devices) Google Play Store (Android Devices) |
- Missouri State opens the 2026 season Friday night when the Bears host Queen City After Dark at Betty and Bobby Allison Sports Town. The meet is Missouri State's only home competition of the season.
- The Bears will race a 5,000-meter course beginning at 9:15 p.m., with the collegiate men's 6K scheduled to follow at 9:45 p.m.
- Queen City After Dark will feature 16 collegiate programs, 32 high school teams and 33 middle school teams, bringing 81 teams to Allison Sports Town throughout the evening.
- Competition begins with the middle school girls at 7 p.m., followed by the middle school boys at 7:30 p.m., high school girls at 8 p.m. and high school boys at 8:30 p.m. The collegiate women take the course at 9:15 p.m., with the collegiate men closing the night at 9:45 p.m.
- The collegiate field includes Bethel (Kan.), Central Missouri, Crowder (Mo.), Drury, Evangel (Mo.), John Brown (Ark.), Kansas Wesleyan, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Missouri S&T, Missouri State, Ottawa (Kan.), Ozarks (Mo.), Rockhurst, Sterling (Kan.), Tabor (Kan.) and York (Neb.).
- Missouri State enters the season tied for second in the Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing third at the 2025 CUSA Championship, its best conference finish since 2010.
- The Bears return All-CUSA Second Team performer Tabitha Fox, who led Missouri State with a 13th-place finish at last season's conference championship.
- Missouri State also returns a strong group from last year's conference lineup, including Ella Cronhardt, Elsa Henry, Madilyn Moore, Ella Rew, Addysen Clark and Emily Nuttall, who all finished inside the top 40 at the 2025 CUSA Championship.
- Following Friday's home opener, Missouri State returns to competition Sept. 25 at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo.
#GoBears
Players Mentioned
Dist.
/ Women's Cross Country
Dist.
/ Women's Cross Country
Dist.
/ Women's Cross Country
Dist.
/ Women's Cross Country
Dist.
/ Women's Cross Country
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/ Women's Cross Country
Dist.
/ Women's Cross CountryThursday, September 17
Wednesday, September 16
Monday, September 14
Sunday, September 13
