University of Missouri
Gans Creek Classic
Cross Country Slated to Host Seventh-Annual Gans Creek Classic
9/25/2025 10:30:00 AM | Cross Country
Mizzou prepares to host 87 teams, marking the largest meet in the event’s history.
Mizzou cross country hosts the seventh annual Gans Creek Classic on Friday morning at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, home of the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship. The race will be live streamed on SEC Network+.
Missouri hosts 87 schools and six unattached groups, the largest meet in the event's history. Similar to last year's contest, the meet features collegiate and high school competitions.
Friday morning will begin with six collegiate races, starting at 8:15 a.m. (men's black 8k), 9 a.m. (women's black 6k), 9:45 a.m. (men's gold 8k) and 10:30 a.m. (women's gold 6k), with open competition to follow.
The Gans Creek Classic features one of the strongest fields in the nation, with elite programs from across the country converging in Columbia. The women's competition includes nine nationally ranked squads entering the 2025 season, while the men's races bring together six top-20 teams, highlighted by defending NCAA champion BYU and runner-up Iowa State. Conference champions from the SEC, ACC and Big Ten, along with the reigning NCAA individual men's champion and women's national third-place finisher, are also competing at the event.
The Tigers will be represented by Joshua Allison, Louie Endres, Tyler Freiner, Ryder James, Raymond Kipkoech, Jamie Mora, Austin Poppelwell, Drew Rogers and Elijah Limo represent the men, with Joseph Bariola, Andrew Hauser, River Hardman, Finn Russell and Carter Spradling running unattached.
On the women's side, Teegan Anderson, Natalie Barnard, Elissa Barnard, Mirriam Chepkirui, Charlotte Cullen, Maleah Eggers, Lily Ginsberg, Suzy Lecoutre, Allison Newman, Kobi Walker, Monica Wanjiku and Rahel Broemmel will race for Mizzou with Morgan Youmans running unattached.
Last year's Gans Creek Classic saw the record books rewritten, with Auburn's Brenda Jepchirchir (19:50.1) setting the women's 6k course record and Kentucky's Edward Bird (23:07.6) establishing the men's 8k mark. In all, more than a dozen of the fastest times ever recorded on the course came from the 2024 meet, including Missouri's James (23:24.8), who etched his name into the top 15 all-time.
The Gans Creek Classic marks the Tigers' third meet of the 2025 regular season and second at home. MU caps off its regular season on October 18 with the Pre-National Invitational at its home facility.
Mizzou opened the season with the Mizzou XC Opener at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on August 29 with a pair of wins from the men's and women's teams. Junior Suzy Lecoutre led the way for the women with a first-place result of 17:04.2 in the 5k in her Missouri debut. Rogers represented the men's squad with a 5k time of 14:48.1 to top the leaderboard.
The Gans Creek Course, located on the south side of Columbia, is a 320-acre park designed as a state-of-the-art cross country facility. The area's rolling terrain offers challenging two- and three-kilometer loops that have made it a premier destination for competitive events.
Thanks to its high-quality design and facilities, Gans Creek has hosted several prestigious meets, including the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, the 2021 SEC Championships, and the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Midwest Regional Championships. Its reputation continues to grow as a top venue for state, regional, and national competitions, including the 2025 NCAA Cross Country National Championship.
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