Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern women's cross country team placed 5th today as the Lions competed at the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships hosted by the Lions at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
 
Lilah Genel and Jenari Lopez were the first Lions to cross the finish line, going back-to-back with 21st and 22nd placements receptively. Genel ran the 6k race in 21:34.84, and Lopez had a time of 21:35.20, both setting their personal bests for the second straight race. With their top-25 finishes, they earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors. 
 
Riley Vickrey placed 34th with a time of 21:52.56, Jayna Gunter finished with a time of 22:22.91 which was good for 60th, and Kayanna Gaines ran the race in 22:32.94 for 68th.

Isabella Frost (74th, 22:36.05) and Kyla Weems (124th, 23:21.14) rounded out the runners for Missouri Southern.
 
Winona State won the team title with 52 points. Augustana was second and Pittsburg State was third as all three teams will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship, also in Joplin on November 18.
 
In addition to the top three team finishers of each region, ten at-large teams will be selected by the NCAA Division II Cross Country selection committee. 

Individual qualifications for nationals are as follows:
-The top two individuals who are not part of a qualifying team will automatically advance to the championship finals (16 individuals total).
-All individuals who finish in the top five at the regional meet and are not part of a qualifying team will automatically advance to the championships finals.
-The next eight individuals will be selected at-large.