ST. JOSEPH, MO – Northwest Missouri State University hosts the 2026 MIAA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships this Saturday, November 7, at the Griffon Cross Country Course in St. Joseph, Missouri.
 
All 25 MIAA cross country programs (13 women’s, 12 men’s) will meet in St. Joseph this weekend to compete in the Association’s 2027 postseason championships. Championship day begins with the men’s eight-kilometer race at 10:00 a.m., followed by the women’s six-kilometer race at 11:00 a.m. Live results and scoring will be provided via BlackSquirrelTiming.com.
 
The official championship award presentation will take place at the finish line, following the women’s post-race protest period. The top ten finishers in each race earn First Team All-MIAA honors, and runners who place 11th through 20th will receive All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors.
 
Northwest Missouri is the two-time defending champion on the men’s side, while Pittsburg State is the women’s four-time reigning champion. The Bearcat men won their second straight MIAA title at the 2025 championship with 54 team points. It was Northwest’s third men’s cross country title overall, while Central Missouri leads the league with 15 total men’s cross country championships. The Gorilla women have claimed the MIAA crown in seven of the last eight conference championships and lead the league overall with 15 titles.
 
Missouri Western senior Pau Valderrama is the top returner from last year’s championship, earning a fourth-place finish in the men’s 2025 8k race with a time of 24:45:69. Eight of the top ten finishers in the women’s 2025 6k championship race return to this year’s championships. Pitt State’s Paige Mullen is the top returning athlete after finishing as the individual runner-up in last year’s 6k race in 21:13.79.
 
Gates and spectator parking will open at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Griffon Cross Country Course is located on the east side of Missouri Western’s campus. Spectator parking will be located in Lot O and will cost $15 on championship day. MIAA fans can purchase parking in advance for only $10 online at BearcatSports.com.
 
To view the official course maps, see championship records, and find more information about the 2026 MIAA Cross Country Championships, visit theMIAA.com/crosscountry.