Saturday, Nov. 8 | NCAA Central Regional Championships
Women 6K – 10 a.m. CT
Men 10K – 11:15 a.m. CT
Joplin, Mo. | Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course
LIVE RESULTS | MEET INFORMATION
 
The No. 28 Northwest Missouri State University women's cross-country team is gearing up to secure its spots to the NCAA Championship meet as it readies for the 2025 NCAA Div. II Central Region Championships this Saturday in Joplin, Mo., hosted by Missouri Southern. 
 
Most recently, the Bearcat women claimed fourth at the MIAA Championship held in Pittsburg, Kan., having had three runners finish in the top 25. Sophomore Olivia Bakker set a new personal record, leading the team with a fifth-place finish and posted the 10th-best time in Bearcat cross country history in the women's 6K. Senior Lydia McGlocklin and senior Lou Maquaire, both set new personal bests, finishing 12th and 22nd respectively. Bakker received her first-team all-MIAA honors along with honorable mention all-MIAA status for McGlocklin. The Northwest women are ranked No. 28 nationally and sixth in the central region. 
 
Central Region Championships Meet Information: 
The meet will be held at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin, Mo., with the women's 6K race beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 10K at 11:15 a.m. The top three teams from each regional event will automatically advance to the NCAA Championship meet, totaling 24 teams. The NCAA Championship meet will take place Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wis.
 
Last season, the Bearcat women placed eighth overall with returning runners Lydia McGlocklin having placed 15th and Mayson Hartley finishing 34th. Olivia Bakker who has been the top Bearcat finisher in three races this fall placed 41st.
 
The Northwest Missouri State University men's and women's cross-country teams are under the direction of Coach Wick Cunningham, who is leading the team for the fourth season. Cunningham was recently named the MIAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Cunningham, a Knoxville, Iowa native, helped guide the Bearcat men's team to its second straight MIAA men's cross country crown this season.
 
Northwest Women's Previous Five Central Region Championship Finishes
2024 – Women (8th)
2023 – Women (9th)
2022 – Women (7th)
2021 – Women (5th)
2019 – Women (26th)

The Northwest women are ranked No. 28 in the week six USTFCCCA National Coaches' Poll rankings. 
 
USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll (Oct. 29)
1. Colo. School of Mines  
2. Grand Valley State  
3. UC-Colorado Springs  
4. West Texas A&M  
5. Cedarville  
6. Adams State  
7. Wingate  
8. Western Colorado  
9. Chico State  
10. Stanislaus State  
11. Lewis  
12. Northern Michigan  
13. Biola (Calif.)  
14. Winona State  
15. Colorado Mesa  
16. Catawba  
17. Pittsburg State  
18. Rogers State  
19. Neb.-Kearney  
20. Western Washington  
21. Tampa  
22. Walsh  
23. Fort Lewis  
24. Mississippi College  
25. Minnesota State  
26. CSU Pueblo  
27. Alaska Anchorage  
28. Northwest Missouri State
29. Lee (Tenn.)  
30. Missouri Southern
 
2025 USTFCCCA National Coaches' Polls
Preseason – NR
Week 1 – 30th
Week 2 – NR
Week 3 – 26th
Week 4 – 21st
Week 5 – 23rd
Week 6 – 28th
 
The Northwest women are ranked No. 6 in the week six USTFCCCA Central Region rankings. 
 
USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country Central Region Rankings (Oct. 28)
1. Winona State  
2. Pittsburg State  
3. Rogers State  
4. Nebraska-Kearney  
5. Minnesota State  
6. Northwest Missouri State
7. Missouri Southern  
8. Minnesota Duluth  
9. Augustana (S.D.)  
10. Fort Hays State
 
2025 USTFCCCA Central Region Rankings
Preseason – 9th
Week 1 – 8th
Week 2 – 9th
Week 3 – 9th
Week 4 – 4th
Week 5 – 4th
Week 6 – 6th