A berth in the NCAA National Championship meet is on the line this weekend in Joplin.
The Northwest Missouri State men's and women's cross country teams will make the trip after putting together a strong fall.
"I think we have all of the pieces there," Northwest cross country coach Wick Cunningham said on the weekly Coaches Show on KXCV-KRNW. "I think we're in really good fitness, we're in great health, we're in a great mental state. That being said, we still have to go out and execute on the day."
The men took first at the MIAA meet — back-to-back titles for the first time in program history. Aziz Mohammed won the individual championship, followed closely by Drew Atkins in second. The women's team was fourth with four runners in the top 30, paced by sophomore Olivia Bakker with a fifth place finish and the tenth fastest 6K in program history.
The Bearcats are confident heading into the region meet, but they also know this is the last guaranteed race on the schedule.
"This would be very similar to football's playoffs, soccer playoffs," Cunningham said. "When you get into that tournament style, it's kind of win or go home for them and it's very similar for us. I think we're ready for it."
The top three teams from each region qualify for the national championship meet in Kenosha, Wisconsin November 22.
