Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's cross country team captured the team and individual titles as the Lions competed in the 30th running of the Southern Stampede today at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course. 

The 6th-ranked Lions finished 15 points in front of Northwest Missouri for the team title as Gidieon Kimutai was the individual champion. 

Kimutai bettered his time from a year ago by 43 seconds as he traversed the 8k course in a time of 24:04.02, 17 seconds in front of the second-place runner. Nickson Kiptoo (25:05.33), Ryan Riddle (25:09.49) and Cody Berry (25:09.81) finished 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively. 

Jared Ozee was 25th, while Kevin Koester and Josh Webb placed 35th and 39th. Michael Shanahan was 56th, while Charles Grigsby finished 255th. 

The Lions had four runners in the top-12 and earned 55 points, topping second-place Northwest Missouri, who finished with 70. Alabama-Huntsville was third, followed by Hutchinson CC, Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoam City, Southwest Baptist and Missouri Western to round out the top-10 scores. 

The Lions will be back on October 5 as Southern will travel to Arkansas to compete in the Chile Pepper Invitational.