ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Led by a runner-up finish from senior Pau Valderrama, MoWest Men's and Women's Cross Country competed at the 2026 MIAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, hosted by Northwest Missouri State.

The Griffon men placed seventh with 160 team points in the 8,000-meter race, while the women finished 10th with 300 points in the 6,000-meter race.

Men's 8,000-Meter Race

Valderrama led the way for MoWest, finishing second overall with a time of 24:38.9. The senior paced the Griffons with his runner-up performance at the conference championships.

Freshman Hemistone Cheruiyot was the second Griffon to cross the finish line, placing 31st overall with a time of 25:37.3. Junior Landon Fuller followed in 38th place, clocking a time of 25:43.1.

Junior Bailey Taig finished 49th with a time of 25:56.6, while freshman Westin Hess rounded out the Griffons' top five in 58th place at 26:13.5.

Senior Ryan Ringgenberg placed 67th with a time of 26:30.0, followed by freshman Daren Linscott in 79th at 26:51.1.

Senior Sam Shipp finished 86th in 27:08.1, while junior Will Gessman placed 88th with a time of 27:24.9. Junior Jack Collins rounded out the MoWest lineup, finishing 99th in 28:11.7.

Women's 6,000-Meter Race

The Griffon women finished 10th overall with 300 team points, led by sophomore Brianna DeBord, who crossed the finish line in 61st place with a time of 23:36.1.

Sophomore Magdalena Jakubowska followed closely behind, finishing 68th overall in 23:42.3. Sophomore Jade Wickwire placed 75th with a time of 24:00.3, while sophomore Meagan Smith finished 76th in 24:02.6.

Freshman Laila Munoz rounded out the Griffons' top five, placing 81st with a time of 24:11.0.

Freshman Abi Teeter finished 85th in 24:21.3, followed by freshman Jenna O'Neill in 96th at 24:50.7.

Senior Bethani Grove placed 100th with a time of 25:01.0, while senior Bailey Cutler finished 107th in 25:27.7. Freshman Riley King rounded out the MoWest lineup, placing 119th with a time of 27:56.0.

Griffon Men's Individual Results

• 2nd – Pau Valderrama – 24:38.9

• 31st – Hemistone Cheruiyot – 25:37.3

• 38th – Landon Fuller – 25:43.1

• 49th – Bailey Taig – 25:56.6

• 58th – Westin Hess – 26:13.5

• 67th – Ryan Ringgenberg – 26:30.0

• 79th – Daren Linscott – 26:51.1

• 86th – Sam Shipp – 27:08.1

• 88th – Will Gessman – 27:24.9

• 99th – Jack Collins – 28:11.7

Griffon Women's Individual Results

• 61st – Brianna DeBord – 23:36.1

• 68th – Magdalena Jakubowska – 23:42.3

• 75th – Jade Wickwire – 24:00.3

• 76th – Meagan Smith – 24:02.6

• 81st – Laila Munoz – 24:11.0

• 85th – Abi Teeter – 24:21.3

• 96th – Jenna O'Neill – 24:50.7

• 100th – Bethani Grove – 25:01.0

• 107th – Bailey Cutler – 25:27.7

• 119th – Riley King – 27:56.0