Kearney, Neb. – The Missouri Southern men's cross country team placed second and Ryan Riddle won the MIAA Championship as the Lions competed in the 2021 MIAA Cross Country Championships hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney at Kearney Country Club.
 
Riddle wins the third-straight individual title for the Lions as teammate Gidieon Kimutai had won the previous two titles but is sitting out this season due to injury. Riddle crossed the 8k finish line in a time of 24:28.42, four seconds in front of teammate JP Rutledge who crossed the line in a time of 24:32.47.
 
Riley Simpson was ninth in a time of 24:54.32 and he, along with Riddle and Rutledge earned first-team All-MIAA honors. Jarod Ozee was 13^th in a time of 25:19.90 to earn honorable mention All-MIAA honors.
 
Landon Fatino was 43^rd in a time of 26:33.46, while Kevin Koester placed 55^th in a time of 26:48.35. Zachary Finley finished in a time of 27:25.03, while Santiago Granados and Gabe McClain crossed in times of 27:44.00 and 28:12.62, respectively.
 
Pittsburg State won the team title with 44 points, 22 in front of the Lions. Northwest Missouri was third, followed by Nebraska-Kearney, Central Missouri, Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Washburn, Rogers State, Missouri Western, and Newman to round out the team scores.  
 
Next up for the Lions will be the 2021 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships which Southern will host at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course. The race will be ran on November 6.