KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Southern senior Caleb Leach was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week, the league announced Wednesday.

Leach, a Cassville, Missouri, native, helped lead the Lions to the team title at the season-opening 2026 Bearcat Invitational on Sept. 5. The senior finished third individually in the four-mile race with a personal-record time of 19:03.93.

Leach was the top male collegiate runner in the race, finishing behind only two unattached competitors.

The weekly honor is the first of Leach's 2026 season and the first MIAA Weekly honor in his career as a Lion.
 
MIAA Cross Country Athlete of the Week Award Winners:
Men's: Caleb Leach, Missouri Southern
Women's: Katie Hughes, Newman
 
NEXT: Missouri Southern next returns to action at the Southern Stampede on Sept. 19 at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin, Missouri. The women's 5K is set for 8 a.m., CT followed by the men's 8K at 8:45 a.m.
 
Fall Missouri Southern Tickets are currently on sale online. Fans can also purchase an MIAA Network subscription to support Missouri Southern Athletics and catch all the Lions action this 2026-27 season.
 
SouthernFest Dinner & Auction, presented by Crossland Construction: The Southernfest Auction presented by Crossland Construction is current live and accepting bids!! Register to bid today at mssulions.com/auction2026 ahead of Saturday's (Sept. 12) Dinner & Auction.