Columbia News

Mizzou’s men’s cross country team has been projected to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the 2025 season, according to a preseason poll released by league coaches. The women’s team was picked to place seventh. These rankings reflect an improvement over last year, when the men were selected ninth and the women eleventh in the SEC preseason poll.

"Rankings are a nice acknowledgment of the growth of our team over the last season, but we will continue to prepare for the season the same way," head cross country coach Kyle Levermore said. "We excited about the potential of both groups and are aware of how many weeks are ahead of us."

Beyond conference projections, Missouri also received recognition from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). In its regional outlook, USTFCCCA ranked Missouri’s men fourth in the Midwest region and placed the women sixth. The men's squad also received votes in USTFCCCA's national poll.

Missouri is set to begin its 2025 campaign with the Mizzou XC Opener on Friday, August 28. This event marks the fifth straight year that it serves as Missouri’s first race of the season. Last year, both teams secured first-place finishes at this meet.

The Tigers have three home competitions scheduled in Columbia at their facility before hosting the 2025 NCAA Cross Country National Championships in November.

In 2024, Missouri concluded its cross country season with a ninth-place finish for the men and an eleventh-place result for the women at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. Seniors Drew Rogers and Rahel Broemmel return after leading their respective squads at regionals and earning All-SEC Second Team honors.

For more updates on Mizzou Track & Field, information can be found on MUTigers.com or through their social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and X (MizzouTFXC).