The cross country season has almost run its course at Missouri Southern, with conference championships over with, regional and national championship meets remain. 

The Lions are coming off of a third place showing at the MIAA championship meet, which was held on their home cross country course. 

The third place finish was not what Head Coach Rutledge wanted to see, but he says he was very pleased at how the team competed.

“We should have run better, and most of our runners did, but it takes a solid five runners to score well for the team,” Rutledge said. 

He also went on to mention that the Lions number five runner fell off the pace going into the last mile and could not keep up with the lead team of University of Central Missouri. 

Northwest Missouri State would slip by the Lions in team point to secure the second place finish.

“Northwest slipped by us by one point. That will not happen again,” Rutledge said.

The Lions were, however, able to hold off rival Pittsburg State University, who finished just behind the Lions in fourth. 

The Lions were able to place three runners in the top-10 with sophomore standout Jake Benton leading the way. Benton finished the 8k course in a time of 24:28.55 securing him seventh place. 

Teammate and MIAA Freshman of the year Eric Schott finished in ninth place in a time of 24:33.38, while other freshmen Andrew Webster rounded out the Lions’ top three finishers as he placed 10th in a time of 24:37.09. 

All three athletes earned All-MIAA status in the process. Freshmen Adrian Todd would earn honorable mention for All-MIAA status. 

The Lions will try to get physically and emotionally sharp, as they prepare to travel to Wichita Falls, Texas, to compete in the 2011 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Meet tomorrow. 

“We will run to win at the regional meet as we always do.  These young men are tough and I feel they have not run their best race yet,” Rutledge said.

“These young men have character and are doing as good as any of the better teams I have had,” Rutledge said.