Gans Creek is the home of the Mizzou men's and women's cross country teams, the Gans Creek Cross Country Course opened on September 27, 2019, with the Gans Creek Classic. The 320-acre park is a state-of-the-art facility that has attracted state, regional and national meets to the mid-Missouri area. The course is host to the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, the 2021 SEC Championships, the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Midwest Regional Championships, and the upcoming 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship. This year marks the sixth year of the Gans Creek Classic.
The course features a permanent start/finish line adjacent to medical support and athlete recovery tent. The spectator friendly facility includes a spectator berm, rising 12-15 feet above the final 500 meters. The two-rail estate fence defines and controls the crossing points' permanent course edge to define the course on the many wide turns.
- Loop Course - 2k Loop and 3k Loop
- Entire course irrigated and graded for drainage
- Minimum course width is 10 meters throughout
- Starting line accommodates up to 42 teams and 550 meters to first sweeping turn
- 2k loop includes lightly rolling hills; sweeping, graded turns
- 3k loop has common first 1200m with 2k loop
- Last 1800m of 3K loop with sweeping, graded turns with slight uphill 300m finish
- Finish straight away of 300m is slightly uphill with elevated viewing berm
Gallery: (7-27-2022) Gans Creek Course
Gallery: (7-27-2022) Facility Maps
Address: 3350 E Gans Road, Columbia, MO 65201
From Interstate-70 (East or West)
- Take Exit 128A heading south toward Jefferson City
- Exit Highway 63 at Discovery Parkway, heading west toward Tolton High School.
- Pass the the left turn for Gans Road from Discovery Parkway, continuing onto Gans Road.
- Turn left into Gans Creek Recreation Area, 3350 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201
From Highway 63 (North or South)
- Exit Highway 63 at Discovery Parkway, heading west toward Tolton High School.
- Pass the the left turn for Gans Road from Discovery Parkway, continuing onto Gans Road.
- Turn left into Gans Creek Recreation Area, 3350 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201.
From Downtown Columbia
- Drive east on Broadway toward Highway 63
- Turn right onto Highway 63, heading south toward Jefferson City.
- Exit Highway 63 at Discovery Parkway, heading west toward Tolton High School.
- Pass the the left turn for Gans Road from Discovery Parkway, continuing onto Gans Road.
- Turn left into Gans Creek Recreation Area, 3350 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201.
From Bearfield Road
- Turn south onto Bearfield Rd from Grindstone Parkway.
- Head south on Bearfield Rd, driving through a small section of winding road.
- Turn left onto Gans Rd at the stop sign. The other corner will say "Country Day School".
- Continue east on Gans Rd, turning right into Gans Creek Recreation Area, 3350 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201.
Parking is free for this event and there will be no admission fee. Team Vans are permitted to park on-site at the cross country course. Team vehicles can drop off in the traffic circle and proceed to the southeast corner of the field on the edge of the traffic circle. Team Busses are not permitted to park on-site. Bus parking is located North of the Course at the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse - 4251 Phillips Farm Rd, Columbia, MO 65201. See the attached maps that identify all lots for schools, spectators and overflow parking.
Course Records -Â Top-10 Times
Men's 8K - Edward Bird // Kentucky - 23:07.6 (2024 Gans Classic)
Men's 6K - Ethan Kern // Kentucky - 17:36.9 (2021 Mizzou XC Opener)
Women's 6K - Mercy Chelangat // Alabama -Â Â 19:55.2Â (2021 SEC Championships)
Women's 5K - Lauren Gregory // Arkansas - 16:54.4 (2021 Mizzou XC Opener)
Meet History
2024Â Gans Creek Classic: Men's Results // Women's Results
2024 Mizzou XC Opener: Men's Results // Women's Results
2023Â Gans Creek Classic: Men's Results // Women's Results
2023Â Mizzou XC Opener: Men's Results // Women's Results
2022 Gans Creek Classic:Â Men's Results // Women's Results
2022 Mizzou XC Opener: Men's Results // Women's Results
2021 SEC Championships: Men's Results // Women's Results
2021 Gans Creek Classic: Men's Results // Women's Results
2021 Mizzou XC Opener: Men's Results // Women's Results
2020 Gans Creek Classic: Men's Results // Women's Results
2019 Gans Creek Classic: Men's Results // Women's Results
