Missouri State cross country traveled to the Cowboy Jamboree (6K) in Stillwater, Okla., this morning.  Pasca Cheruiyot set the Missouri State school record, running a time of 20:34.  The previous school record was 20:46.77, which was run by Casey Owens in 2004.  Cheruiyot’s time was good for third place, behind Kansas State’s Beverly Ramos (20:30) and Wayland Baptist’s Caroline Karunde (20:33).  Cheruiyot led the race until she was overtaken in the final 100 meters.

Jamie Vest ran a time of 22:01, good for the 14th fastest time in school history, but 21st in the Cowboy Jamboree.  Terry Phillips, who finished one second behind Vest (22:02), ran the 15th fastest time in school history. 

The Bears (185 points) as a team finished tied for fifth with Kansas State, who was ranked 6th in the Midwest region, and ahead of conference-rival Wichita State, who finished in 8th place.  Northern Arizona won the meet with 61 points, followed by Oklahoma State, Miami (OH), and Kansas.

The Bears defeated other regionally-ranked teams including:  Indiana, ranked 12th in the Great Lakes region, finished 7th; Texas State, ranked 11th in the South Central region, finished 13th; Texas-Arlington, ranked 12th in the South Central region, finished 15th; and Texas Tech, ranked 5th in the Mountain region, finished 25th.

The Bears are back in action on October 18th as they travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete in the NCAA Pre-National Championships.