ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Southern women's cross country captured the 2026 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Championship on Saturday at the Griffon Cross Country Course, while the men's team placed fourth. The 2026 conference championships were hosted by Northwest Missouri State.

The women's team claimed its eighth MIAA team championship in program history with 60 points, marking the program's first conference title since 2014, when the Lions won with 44 points.

Ruth Chemutai led the way, winning the individual 6K championship with an MIAA-record-breaking time of 20:32.0. Chemutai recorded a personal record and earned All-MIAA First Team honors with the victory. She became the first Missouri Southern women's runner to win the individual MIAA championship since Kimi Shank-Reed in 2009. Shank captured the 6K individual title with a time of 21:01.07.

Viola Johanson followed in 11th place with a personal-best time of 21:44.8, while Lilah Genel finished 12th in 21:46.3. Both earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors. Kyla Weems placed 16th in 22:01.1, and Abbey Brackenbury rounded out the scoring five in 20th place with a time of 22:19.2. Both also earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition.

Hailey Nelson finished 28th in 22:30.5, followed by Ava Power in 32nd at 22:38.6. Isabella Frost placed 46th in 23:07.5, while McKenna Hood recorded a personal best of 23:35.0 to finish 60th.

On the men's side, Missouri Southern finished fourth with 100 points in the 8K championship.

Kelton Sorrell paced the Lions with a seventh-place finish in 24:56.4 to earn All-MIAA First Team honors. Chase Sorrell followed in 12th place with a time of 25:01.4, while Kelby Conner placed 17th in 25:08.3. Both earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition.

Michael Kershaw finished 33rd in 25:39.0, followed by Caleb Leach in 36th at 25:41.0. Brandon Hammett placed 48th in 25:56.4, while Carson King finished 69th in 26:31.8 and Kyler Gunter crossed in 81st at 26:54.6.

Missouri Southern now turns its attention to the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships.
 

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Women 6000m
Missouri Southern Team – 1st Place Champion 60 points
Ruth Chemutai – 1st place 20.32.0 (1 point) PR, All-MIAA First Team
Viola Johanson – 11th place 21:44.8 (11 points) PR, All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Lilah Genel – 12th place 21:46.3 (12 points) All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Kyla Weems – 16th place 22:01.1 (16 points) All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Abbey Brackenbury – 20th place 22:19.2 (20 points) All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Hailey Nelson – 28th place 22:30.5 (28 points for tie breaker)
Ava Power – 32nd place 22:38.6 (32 points for tie breaker)
Isabella Frost – 46th place 23:07.5
McKenna Hood – 60th place 23:35.0 PR
Rylee Simons – DNF

Men 8000m
Missouri Southern Team – 4th place 100 points
Kelton Sorrell – 7th place 24:56.4 (7 points) All-MIAA First Team
Chase Sorrell – 12th place 25:01.4 (12 points) All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Kelby Conner – 17th place 25:08.3 (17 points) All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Michael Kershaw – 33rd place 25:39.0 (31 points)
Caleb Leach – 36th place 25:41.0 (33 points)
Brandon Hammett – 48th place 25:56.4 (43 points for tie breaker)
Carson King – 69th place 26:31.8 (57 points for tie breaker)
Kyler Gunter – 81st place 26:54.6