Friday, Sept. 4 | Griffon Twilight
Women's 5K – 7:00 p.m. | Men's 6K – 7:30 p.m.
St. Joseph, Mo. | Griffon Cross Country Course
LIVE RESULTS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University men's and women's cross-country teams are set to begin their seasons at the Griffon Twilight hosted by Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo on Friday, Sept. 4. 
 
The Bearcats women's race is set to start at 7:00 p.m. and the men's race is set to follow at 7:30 p.m.
 
The meet will mark the debut for first-year Bearcat distance coach Myles Bach, who takes over the Northwest distance program after previous coaching stints at Washburn and Beloit College. Under Bach's leadership, Northwest will compete in four regular-season meets prior to the postseason. Following the Griffon Twilight, Northwest travels to Lincoln, Neb., for the Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invitational on Sept. 19. 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.  
 
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 State [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 State – 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
 
In the recent preseason USTFCC 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. 1)
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. Fort Hays State
 
USTFCCCA DII Women's Central Region Cross Country Coaches' Rankings (Sept. 1)
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.)