Before the 2025 cross country season began, Mizzou made it clear that its goal was to qualify both the men's and women's teams to the NCAA Cross Country Championship on Nov. 22, set to take place on its own home course at Gans Creek.
To achieve that, both squads aim to place first or second at the NCAA Midwest Championship in two weeks to earn an automatic bid or build up a good enough season résumé to earn an at-large berth.
Both Missouri squads added to their growing profile, as both finished fifth at the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championship on Friday in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“The SEC Championship race is a game of inches, and I’m proud of how we competed today,” Mizzou coach Kyle Levermore said in a Mizzou Athletics release. “To have one of two programs with both men’s and women’s teams finish in the top five of the conference is a significant milestone for us."
The No. 23 Missouri men's team collected 145 points to earn its finish. Senior Drew Rogers paced the Tigers, cracking the top 10 and finishing seventh after clocking 23 minutes, 29.6 seconds in the 8-kilometer run. The Herscher, Illinois, product became the third Tiger in the men's team's history to earn All-SEC First Team honors.
“Drew has been the rock of this men’s program and leads by example every day,” Levermore said. “His results speak for themselves – another top 10 finish and five spots higher than last year’s race.”
Graduate student Austin Popplewell followed in 24th, crossing the line in 24:03.76, and freshman Elijah Limo clocked 24:12.82, good for 31st.
Entering the weekend, the men's team was ranked third in the conference, behind only No. 8 Alabama and No. 20 Georgia. Alabama took home the team title, while Georgia was the runner-up.
No. 29 Oklahoma and an unranked Arkansas also surpassed the Tigers, taking third and fourth, respectively. Oklahoma competes in the Midwest Region, meaning Mizzou, which ranks third in the Midwest behind No. 1 Iowa State and No. 2 Oklahoma State, will have another team to wrestle with for a bid to nationals.
Though Arkansas is unranked this season, it finished the 2024 season at No. 3 and had won the previous two conference championships.
The No. 23 Missouri women's team walked away with fifth after recording 172 points. Freshman Monica Wanjiku headlined the group, securing sixth in 20:02.2 in the 6k. The Kaimbu, Kenya, product is the first in the Tigers' history to earn both All-SEC First Team and Freshman Team honors.
“Monica is a rising star in this sport, and she’s continued to show that when the lights come on, she’s in the mix,” Levermore said. “To be sixth at her first SEC Cross Country Championship is a huge accomplishment.”
Junior Suzy Lecoutre finished next in 33rd after clocking 20:54.62, and freshman Kobi Walker followed up in 36th after crossing the line in 20:57.19.
The women's team also entered ranking third in the conference, behind No. 3 Florida and No. 20 South Carolina. The Gators took the title, and No. 25 Alabama was the runner-up. The Gamecocks rounded out the top three, and an unranked LSU squad snuck in at fourth, upsetting the Tigers.
The women's team already ranks fourth in the Midwest region, so a podium finish would've been valuable in improving the Tigers' hopes of securing an at-large berth for nationals.
The Tigers will continue their postseason trek in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship on Nov. 14 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
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