KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Southern's Lilah Genel has been named the MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week following a standout performance at the 2025 Chile Pepper Festival, held on Oct. 4 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
 
Genel, a junior from Springfield, Missouri, ran a personal-best time of 17:36.6 in the women's 5K, turning in one of the top performances of the meet against a highly competitive field. Her strong effort helped pace the Lions and marked a major milestone in her collegiate career. Genel was the fifth non-D1 runner to reach the line.
 
MSSU will now turn its attention to the 2025 MIAA Cross Country Championships, scheduled for Saturday Oct. 25 at Four Oaks Golf Course in Pittsburg, Kansas.