EMPORIA, Kan. – Missouri Western men’s and women’s cross country competed at the Emporia State Invitational on Saturday. The women’s team earned third place in the 5K race while the men finished fifth in the 8K. The women’s field totaled 11 teams and the men’s field included 13 teams.

The women’s team finished with an average time of 20:08. Missouri Western was also one of only two teams to finish with two runners in the top-10. Megan Gillen and Allison Goos finished seventh and eighth respectively to lead the Griffons. Gillen finished the event with a time of 19:41. Gillen has been the top-finisher for the Griffons in each of their meets this season. Allison Goos finished just three seconds behind Gillen at 19:44. Her second place team finish is one her best performances of the season. Goos shaved seven seconds off of her time from the last 5K she ran at the Missouri Southern Stampede in September.

Kelsey Cox rounded out the top-three for the Griffon women. Her time of 20:17 placed her 22nd overall at the event.

The men finished with an average time of 28:04 in the 8K race. Riley Gorham led the Griffons for the second-straight week in his 11th place finish. Gorham finished with a time of 27:23. Andrew Wright finished 18th with a time of 27:47

Brandon Colner finished in 20th place and was followed by James Zeismer who finished 22nd.

The Griffons’ next race will be their last competition before the MIAA Championships. They will head to Warrensburg for the Central Missouri Mule Run on October 20.

— MWSU Athletics —