Bolivar, Mo – McKendree University women's and men's cross country both finished 11th at the Great Lake Valley conference championship meet hosted by Southwest Baptist University. Both teams improved upon their 12th places finishes from last fall and is the highest placement for each team in a full season since 2018. 

The women's 6-kilometer race commenced at 9:30 a.m. and saw sophomore Sophia Paschal lead the way for the Bearcats, finishing the race with a time of 25:48.3. Junior Reagan Lucas followed suit crossing the line in 25:54.5. Sophomores Lacey Laxton and Colleen Zinke came through next with times of 26:17.4, and 26:35.7 respectively.  

Freshman Chloe Gough rounded out the scoring for the Bearcats with a time of 27:15.6. Azia Douglas and Caroline Peters closed out the top seven with times of 28:06.3, 29:05.7 each. Tori King crossed the line with a time of 29:45.4 to close out the day for the Bearcats.  

The men's 8-kilometer race began at 10:30 a.m. and saw sophomore John Bush lead the way for the with a time of 27:19.8. Sophomore Blake Westrater hustled through in 28:17.1, and senior Jaxon Groves-Scott crossed the line with a time of 28:29.8.  

Junior Caleb Klein finished with a time of 29:09.2, and senior Michael Hayeck rounded out the scoring with a time of 30:08.4. Oshawi Burgher crossed the line with a time of 30:17, and closing out the top seven was senior Seth Kasinger 32:01.8. Junior Braden Voss finished the day for McKendree with a time of 34:28.8. 

The McKendree harriers are back in action on Sat. Nov. 4 in Evansville, Ind. For the NCAA Midwest Regional meet.