Published: August 22, 2004
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of Missouri Cross Country. Here is a quick narrative history of the first years of the sport at the University. Cross country has been at Mizzou for longer than 75 years; however, 1929 was the first year that the cross country team was considered a separate sport from track and field according to the Missouri Athletic Department. But, to this day, the philosophy at Missouri Track & Field has that cross country and track and field, both men's and women's, are considered one. Although between cross country and track and field, the NCAA considers it as six different sports.
Most of the history written prior to 1950 was compiled in mid-1949 by Roy G. Tatum. Tatum was going to write a book that told the vast history of Missouri's first years of track and field, but, it appears it never made to press. His homework from over 50 years ago which included articles from the school yearbook, The Savitar, and from findings from personal interviews, remained in the sports information office and is just now being used to its original potential. While Tatum provided a great foundation to build upon, not since has the history of Missouri Track & Field been dug out of the archives. Attempts in the future will be made to fill the holes as part of the Missouri Track & Field History Restoration Project.
1905
The first cross country club began working out at Missouri and although they were part of the athletic program they were not considered as part of the track team until later in the decade.
1913
Now considered part of track and field, the cross country team placed second at the Missouri Valley Conference meet in Lincoln, Neb.
1915
In Lawrence, Kan., Missouri finished third at the Missouri Valley "Cross Country Run". Ames finished with 28 points, Kansas was second with 31, and Nebraska was fourth with 102 points.
1924
Missouri lost duals to the Kansas Aggies (Kansas State) and Kansas, but defeated Washington University by a score of 19 to 36. Both K-State and Kansas had to set a new course record to top Mizzou.
In the Missouri Valley Conference meet, Missouri took fifth. The Kansas Aggies (K-State) were first, Ames (Iowa State) finished second.
1925
According to Tatum, "the 1925 cross country team had the most heart-breaking season of many years. Composed almost entirely of sophomore runners, the team fell before the powerful Nebraska and champion Kansas Aggies [Kansas State] runners in dual meets, and even finished behind the Kansans in a conference race over the Mount Oread course. Captain Steele, Ponder, Mahoney, and Landau started all races and Coach [Robert] Simpson used Lemar, Vallet, Godwin, and Rush in vain attempts to develop a winning combination from his inexperience material. Steele finished ninth in the conference run and was given a varsity letter. The usual sweater awards were not given; it being the policy to reward to only winning teams." The cross country team members weren't generally given varsity "M" letters, but instead were given the letters "CC" with an arrow through the middle.
1926
"The cross country team participated in meets with Nebraska, Iowa State, Central College, Drake, and Oklahoma and won from Drake and Central. They lost to the other teams by a small margin. The team was captained for the second time by Charles W. Steele. Steele was also a letter man in track and was considered Missouri's best two-miler for the season. Other members of the team were: Captain-elect Roy W. Harper, L.H. Lemar, Gaylord F. Godwin, Clyde Morningstar, and John Lewondoski. Coach W.J. Fallon coached the cross country as well as being the trainer for other varsity teams."
1927
In 1927, the Missouri cross country team finished seventh in the Missouri Valley Cross Country Race. The team was again coached by Fallon.
1929
Although not mentioned by Tatum, cross country was officially considered a separate sport by the University Athletic Department in 1929. Also in 1929, Missouri became part of the Big Six Conference with Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma as charter members. Kansas was not in the Missouri Valley, but the other five schools felt that the nine in the Valley were too many as Oklahoma A& M [Oklahoma State], Grinnell, Drake, and Washington University were left to make their own conference. Drake is still in the Missouri Valley to this day.
Tatum did make an interesting observation about the year. "The cross country team coached by ex-captain Roy Harper of last years' cross country team turned out some exceptional runners. Much more interest was created in cross country because all meets finished between halves of the football game at Memorial Stadium. It might be interesting to know that the teams and the two milers are the only ones that ever got a chance to run on the track in Memorial Stadium [at the time]."
1935
Coach Jack Matthews guided the team to a fifth place finish in the Big Six two-mile Cross Country Championships. Team members that were awarded team sweaters included Robert Beasly, Rex Kirkman, and Don Hayden.
1936
Missouri took runner-up to a strong Kansas State team at the 1936 Big Six Cross Country Championships. That team defeated Iowa State and Nebraska in dual meets but lost to Drake and Kansas State.
1937
Another second place finish for the Missouri team in the Big Six, again losing out to Kansas State. Missouri only lost to Kansas State and the Springfield Teachers (Southwest Missouri State) in dual meets.
1938
This was a year of firsts. The first NCAA Cross Country Championships were held, many Tigers would go there as individuals over the years, but it took until the 1967 season for Missouri to actually qualify and have a team score at the national championships. This was also the first of three years in which John Munski would become the first Tiger to win the cross country conference crown three years in a row. And, for the third year in a row, the Tigers finished second in the Big Six to Kansas State.
1939
John Munski became Missouri's first All-American in the track and field program, finishing third in the second-ever NCAA Championship, held in East Lancing, Mich., running the four mile race in 20:44.8, the first time Munski had raced at that distance. The team finished fifth in the Big Six during the season.
1940
Led by Team Captain Marshall Reeves, Ray Rayl, William Baker, and Roland Watson, finished third at the Big Six Championships. They beat Kansas State, Iowa State, and Nebraska in dual meets.
1942-1945
World War II cancelled the Big Six Conference meets. The NCAA Championships were cancelled in 1943.
1946
Legendary Missouri Coach Tom Botts came to power, encouraging all of his track athletes to join the cross country team and pushed it as more than a workout for track season.
1947
Colorado joined the Big Six, making the Big Seven Conference.
1948
John McGuire became the second Missouri Cross Country All-American.
1952-1956
Missouri claimed three All-Americans in five years including Keith Bacon. Bacon won the 1955 NCAA Individual Cross Country Championship, the only Tiger to do so.
1957
The first year of the Big 8 Conference adding Oklahoma State to the Big 7. A.L. Gustin Golf Course, the Tigers' current home venue, opens.
1967
Missouri won its first conference cross country championship after a 38-year drought, then part of the Big 8. The Tigers also scored as a team in their first NCAA Championship, finishing sixth with 148 points. Glenn Ogden lead the Tigers with a 15th place finish, earning All-America honors.
1970
The Tigers placed in their fourth consecutive NCAA meet and once again finished sixth like in 1967. The Tigers also won the Big 8 Championship.
1973
The first year of Missouri Women's Cross Country.
1974
Coach Robin Lingle guided the men's team to a co-championship in the Big 8. Also the first year of the NCAA District Championships (later changed to Regional Championships)
1975
The last of 13 years in which Missouri's Gustin Golf Course hosts the MSHSAA Championships.s
1977
Men's team wins NCAA District V Championship and follows with a 18th place finish at the NCAA Championships, led by Brad Hawthorne.
1980
The Missouri women's cross country team wins the track and field program's first female Big 8 Conference team championship.
1981
In the women's first year as part of the NCAA, the women finished ninth in the country led by All-American Andrea Fischer. The team also won the NCAA District V Championship.
1982
Missouri hosts the NCAA Regional Championships. The Tiger women finish third; the men eighth.
1983-1984
Andrea Fischer and Sabrina Dornhoefer both earned All-America honors in both years. In 1984, led team to the best women's national team finish to date (7th). Fischer also finished 11th in the nation in 1981. Also in 1984, the Tiger women claim their second Big 8 Championship.
1990
Susan Bliss participates in her third straight NCAA Championships as an individual and wins her second consecutive All-America honor with a fourth-place national finish in 1989 and a third-place finish in 1990, the highest a Missouri woman has placed at the national meet.
1996
After 38 years of the Big 8 Conference, four schools from the broken SWC conference, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, join to form the Big 12.
1997
Erin Windler becomes the first Tiger to win a Big 12 Conference cross country title, winning in a time in 17:29 in the 5k, leading the team to a third place finish. Coach Jeff Pigg guides women's team to third consecutive NCAA District/Region Championship. The year was the first for the NCAA Regional format that exists today.
1998
The Tiger men return to the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time since 1977, 21 years. Ryan Pirtle led the charge with a 14th place finish.
2000
Nick Smith leads the men's team to their third consecutive third-place finish at the Big 12 Championships. Kerry Hills leads the women to their fourth-straight third-place finish in the conference. Men's team finishes second in the NCAA Regional Championships in back-to-back years. Missouri hosts the NCAA Regional Championships.
2001
Ann Marie Brooks earns Missouri's first cross country All-America honor since 1990 with a 28th place finish.
2002
Led by freshman Valerie Lauver, the Tiger women finishes runner-up at the Big 12 Championships for the first time since 1996. Coaches Jared & Rebecca Wilmes guide women's team to the NCAA Regional Championship title. Rebecca Wilmes is named Midwest Region Coach of the Year. Missouri hosts the Big 12 Championships.
2003
The Missouri women claim the best season since 1984. Sophomore Amanda Bales earns All-America honors and leads team to a 12th place national finish. Bales also won the NCAA Region individual crown. For the eighth of nine years, the Missouri women finished in the top three in the conference and in the top 25 in the nation.
The first cross country media guide was made to help promote the fall portion of Missouri Track & Field to both recruits and the media.
2004
Missouri Cross Country 75th Anniversary.
Contact Sam Rinkus at Rinkuss@missouri.edu for more info, corrections, omissions, or to contribute.