Joplin, Mo. – The stage is set at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course as the Missouri Southern Cross Country program readies to host the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships 2023. The event, set to unfold Saturday morning, will see teams battling for glory and advancement to the NCAA DII National Championships.
The NCAA Division II Central Region Championships 2023 is one of the many Region Cross Country Championships taking place on Saturday.
NCAA DII Atlantic Regional, NCAA DII Central Regional, NCAA DII East Regional (Live Results, NCAA DII Midwest Regional (Live Results), NCAA DII South Regional (Live Results), NCAA DII South Central Regional (Live Results), NCAA DII Southeast Regional (Live Results), and NCAA DII West Regional (Live Results) are the other championships to follow this weekend.
Read more: Four Florida Gators Awarded with 2023 Cross Country All-SEC Honors
The race towards the NCAA Division II National Championships, slated for November 18, aslo in Joplin, hinges on the performance in the upcoming regional races around the country.
The top three teams from each Region Championships 2023 race earn a direct entry, alongside the top two individuals not part of the advancing teams.
Additionally, athletes ranking in the top-five not part of advancing teams will also progress. To complete the Championship field, the NCAA Cross Country committee will earmark ten at-large teams and eight individuals.
For those following the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships, action gets underway at 10:00 a.m. in Joplin with the women’s 6k race, followed by the men’s 10k race at 11:15 a.m. Real-time results will be accessible for both races, and you can follow it all live here.
Last year at the Central Region Championships, the Missouri Southern men clinched the team title and saw Gidieon Kimutai also outrun the competition, sealing a place finish nearly 10 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
Stay tuned for all the latest results as the battle for national championship spots unfolds.
