Missouri cross country travels to Iowa State for season opener

The Missouri men’s and women’s cross country teams open their 2026 season this Friday at the Cyclone Opener in Ames, Iowa. The Tigers move to the Iowa State Cross Country Course after spending the last five years starting their season at home. Head distance coach Kyle Levermore plans to evaluate the teams based on their execution during the final two to three kilometers of the race rather than final placement. The women’s squad enters the event ranked No. 24 nationally, while the men’s team holds the No. 30 spot in the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll. Jean Kipchumba will not compete this week as she remains sidelined until the Nuttycombe Invitational. The women’s 5K race begins at 8:30 a.m. CDT, followed by the men’s 6K at 9:00 a.m.

• 5:30 PMYahoo Sports — Preview: Mizzou Cross Country Hits the Road for Cyclone Opener