JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Southern men's and women's cross country teams both finished eighth at the 2025 NCAA Central Championship Saturday afternoon at Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course. Three Lions earned All-Region honors for their performances at the Regional. 
 
The women totaled 211 points for eighth overall in the 6K and were paced by All-Region runner Lilah Genel who crossed the finish in 21:42.49 for 20th.
 
The Winona State women won the Central Regional with 99 points followed by Pittsburg State (113 points) and Nebraska Kearney (116) to round out the top three overall teams. 
 
Emily McCullough of Fort Hays State took home the Central Regional crown with a time of 20:32.59. Paige Mullen of Pittsburg State was second (20:42.64) and Winona State's Sophia Taarud took third (20:48.22).
 
The Lion men finished eighth Saturday with 206 points in the 10K race. Jaden Deaton and Chase Sorrell both finished in the top-25 for All-Region laurels to lead MSSU. 
 
Deaton was the sixth fastest man at the Central Region, clocking in at 30:38.56. 
 
Sorrell placed #18 in the 10K with a personal-best 31:15.14.
 
The Northwest Missouri men took first overall Saturday with 72 points in the 10K followed by Washburn (104 points) and East Central (116 points).
 
Northwest Missouri's Aziz Mohammed and Drew Atkins crossed the finish one-two in 29:53.48 and 30:04.4, respectively. Donald Kibet of Washburn was third (30:21.66).
 
Women's 6K
#20 - Lilah Genel, 21:42.49 – All Region 
#39 - Abbey Brackenbury, 22:11.08, PR
#46 - Kyla Weems, 22:17.34
#50 - Hailey Nelson, 22:20.43, PR
#56 - Isabella Frost, 22:26.12, PR
#68 - Zoe Nelson, 22:36.21, PR
#111 - Ava Power, 23:13.31
 
 
Men's 10K
#6 - Jaden Deaton, 30:38.56 – All Region
#18 - Chase Sorrell, 31:15.14 – All Region, PR
#51 - Kelby Connor, 32:14.96, PR
#63 - Carson King, 32:34.59, PR
#65 - Michael Kershaw, 32:37.60, PR
#88 - Caleb Leach, 33:09.54, PR