COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University cross country teams each put up strong performances at the 2023 MIAA Championships held at Gans Creek XC Course.
 
On the women's side, Alyna Thibault led the Bearcats and finished two positions higher than last year, in 11th place with a time of 22:14.76. Taylor McCreedy wasn't long behind her as she finished 16th with a time of 22:22.22. Thibault and McCreedy each were credited with honorable mention all-MIAA status for finishing in the top-20.
 
Overall, the Bearcat women finished sixth in team scores with 133 points. 
 
Drew Atkins led the Bearcat men's effort with a 10th-place finish and earned first-team all-MIAA status. Atkins crossed in a time of 24:46.6 – four positions higher than his performance last season.
 
Nate Mueller and Dillon Grover also collected honorable mention all-MIAA honors. Mueller placed 11th with a time of 24:53.73. Grover took 18th with a time of 25:05.38.
 
The men finished third overall in the team standings with 98 points. It marks the 22nd time in program history that the Bearcat men have finished in the top three at the MIAA championship meet.
 
The programs will prepare themselves for the NCAA Div. II Central Region Championships set for Nov. 4 in Joplin, Mo.
 
Bearcat Women's Results (6K) - 2023 MIAA Championships 
11. Alyna Thibault – 22:14.76 
17. Taylor McCreedy – 22:22.22 
21. Lydia McGlocklin – 22:31.38 
39. Whitney Post – 23:24.52 
45. Shelby Harris – 23:49.13 
49. Breelie Mauro – 24:00.28 
53. Mayson Hartley – 24:14.26 
61. Kaitlyn Mlnarik – 24:27.47 
78. Amanda Seggerman – 25:54.19 
 
Final Women's Team Standings
1.     Pittsburgh State (57) 
2.     Missouri Southern (65) 
3.     Fort Hays State (105) 
4.     Rogers State (111) 
5.     Nebraska-Kearney (118) 
6.     Northwest Missouri State (133) 
7.     Missouri Western (174) 
8.     Washburn (212) 
9.     Newman (246) 
10.  Central Missouri (269) 
11.  Emporia State (287) 
12.  Lincoln (348) 
·       Central Oklahoma (NA) 
 
Bearcat Men's Results (8K) - 2023 MIAA Championships
10. Drew Atkins – 24:46.60 
11. Nate Mueller – 24:53.73 
18. Dillon Grover – 25:05.38 
26. Brandon Mundorf – 25:26.83 
33. Tyler Blay – 25:43.83 
42. Cooper Greenslade – 25:59.33 
50. Grayson Tapp – 26:10.75 
55. Maxime Touron – 26:16.28 
65. Charlie Kinslow – 26:35.91 
86. Matt Goeckel – 27:28.85 
 
Final Men's Team Standings
1.     Pittsburgh State (67) 
2.     Washburn (82) 
3.     Northwest Missouri State (98) 
4.     Missouri Southern (101) 
5.     Nebraska-Kearney (109) 
6.     Central Missouri (112) 
7.     Emporia State (184) 
8.     Fort Hays State (191) 
9.     Missouri Western (197) 
10.  Newman (314) 
11.  Rogers State (326)