The Missouri Southern men’s and women’s cross-country teams are preparing to travel to Romeoville, Illinois to compete in the Lewis University Crossover on Oct. 12.

When the race begins Saturday, it will have been three full weeks since the Lions’ last meet, after the men captured first place and the individual title in the Southern Stampede. The women finished third in the meet. Although it has been a few weeks since their last meet, the Lions have been training hard in preparation for their journey to Illinois.

With the MIAA Cross Country Championships coming up in two weeks, Southern looks to improve on their times to get into the right mindset for the important championship meets on the horizon.

Entering the week, the Southern men are ranked sixth in the Division-II national cross-country poll, while the women are ranked 16th nationally, rising four places since the last poll was taken.

Southern has a strong hold on the MIAA, with sophomore Gidieon Kimutai on the men’s side and junior Julianna Determan on the women’s side leading the way in nearly every race. Following the Southern Stampede, Kimutai was named Cross-Country Division-II National Runner of the Week. Kimutai looks to ride this wave of success into this meet and the championship meets ahead.

Sophomore Ryan Riddle, after finishing second in the first meet just behind teammate Kimutai, looks to make his name known in the MIAA and the Central region.

Following the meet this Saturday, the MIAA Championship meet will be held on Oct. 26, and the Division-II Central Region Championship will be held on Nov. 9. Both meets are scheduled to be held on Southern’s campus at the Tom Rutledge Cross-Country Course.