Saturday, Sept. 19 | Viking Invitational
Event Start – 10:30 AM
Ankeny, Iowa | DMACC XC Course
LIVE RESULTS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University men's and women's cross-country teams are primed for their second meet this season in Ankeny, Iowa at the Viking Invitational hosted by Grand View University on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Bearcats recently got their seasons started with strong finishes at the Griffon Twilight. In the women's 5K run, Northwest occupied four of the top five spots with Bree Mauro, Shelby Harris, Chloe Heckman, and Ava Campbell finishing first, second, third, and fourth, respectively. Finding similar success in the men's 6K were Caden Scalfaro and Paxton Bloom, who finished third and fourth, respectively, for the 'Cats.

This season marks the debut for first-year distance coach Myles Bach, who takes over the Bearcat distance program after previous coaching stints at Washburn and Beloit College. Following the Viking Invitational, the Bearcats will then compete in the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Lawrence, Kan., on Oct. 11 before wrapping up the regular season at the Griffon Open on Oct. 24.  
 
Postseason competition begins Nov. 7 at the MIAA Championships in St. Joseph, Mo. Northwest will then head to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the NCAA Central Region Championship on Nov. 21, with the NCAA Division II National Championship set for Dec. 5 in Lawrence, Kan.  
 
In the recent week 1 USTFCCCA Central Region coaches' rankings, the men ranked ninth, while the women checked in at No. 8. 
 
USTFCCCA DII Men's Central Region Cross Country Coaches' Rankings (Sept. 15)
1. Augustana (S.D.)
2. Washburn
3. Pittsburg State
4. East Central (Okla.)
5. Neb.-Kearney
6. Oklahoma Baptist
7. Harding
8. Missouri Southern
9. Northwest Missouri State
10. Minnesota State
 
USTFCCCA DII Women's Central Region Cross Country Coaches' Rankings (Sept. 15)
1. Pittsburg State
2. Winona State
3. Rogers State
4. Neb.-Kearney
5. Missouri Southern
6. Augustana (S.D.)
7. Minnesota State
8. Northwest Missouri State
9. Minnesota Duluth
10. East Central (Okla.)
 
Both Bearcat squads were picked fifth in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, with the men tallying 84 points and the women receiving 103 points. Last season, the Northwest men captured their second consecutive MIAA championship and went on to secure an 11th-place finish at the NCAA National Championships. The Bearcat women finished fourth at the MIAA Championships, highlighted by Olivia Bakker qualifying for the NCAA Championships, where she finished 52nd overall.
 
2026 MIAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [5] – 114 points
2. Washburn [3] – 108 points
T3. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 90 points
T3. Missouri Southern – 90 points
5. Northwest Missouri [3] – 84 points
6. Fort Hays State – 73 points
7. Rogers State – 60 points
8. Missouri Western – 54 points
9. Central Missouri – 45 points
10. Emporia State – 40 points
11. Newman – 19 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 15 points
[#] - First Place Votes
 
2026 MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [7] – 138 points
2. Rogers State [3] – 128 points
3. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 116 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 107 points
5. Northwest Missouri – 103 points
6. Fort Hays State – 91 points
7. Washburn [1] – 86 points
8. Emporia State – 56 points
9. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 52 points
10. Central Missouri – 49 points
11. Missouri Western – 44 points
T12. Central Oklahoma – 22 points
T12. Newman – 22 points 
[#] - First Place Votes