The UNI men’s and women’s cross country teams were in action on Friday, Sept. 30 in Columbia, Mo. for the Gans Creek Classic Invitational, hosted by the University of Missouri. The Panther women finished in 12th place out of 24 participants with a score of 366 points, while the men took 17th out of 22 in the field tallying 475 points overall. The University of Illinois took first place as a team in the women’s side, while Iowa State was the first place winner for the men. 

Kate Crawford led UNI on the women’s side as she was the first Panther to cross the finish line in 59th place overall, running the 6k race in 21:44. She was followed by teammate Emma Hoins in 72nd place with a time of 21:53, Sophia Jungling in 79th place at a time of 22:09, Mia Rampton in 81st at 22:16 and Isabelle Schaffer in 107th with a time of 22:23. Paige Holub and Sydney Schaffer followed up the Panther women with 120nd and 123rd and times of 22:35 and 23:16, respectively.

On the men’s side it was Payton Marrs leading the Panthers, finishing in 75th place with a time of 24:55. Teammates Brady Greibel and Caleb Shumaker followed up with finishes in 118th and 120th, and times just two seconds apart at 25:25 and 25:27, respectively. Jayden Dickson, Drake Hanson and Kon Dut rounded out the Panther men, finishing in 156th, 169th and 207th places. 

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will return to action on Friday, Oct. 14 at the Bradley Pink Classic at the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill, hosted by Bradley University.