Mizzou cross country nearing race time for national championships

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The cross country season finale is right around the corner.

Mizzou is set to host the NCAA championships for the first time in school history on Saturday. The Tiger women qualified for the team race on Nov. 14, after placing fourth at the Midwest region championships.

Freshman Monica Wanjiku has been the team's top finisher in every race this season. She placed sixth at both the conference and regional championships and secured an automatic qualifier for the national championships, before the rest of the team received an at large bid.

"I wanted us to go to nationals as a team," said Wanjiku. "I didn't want us to not go to nationals and other schools to come to our course, so I felt so good when I heard we were top four."

You can see the full interview with Monica, cross country coach Kyle Levermore, and senior Allison Newman in the video player above.

Along with Wanjiku, Mirriam Chepkirui, and Kobi Walker, round out a star-studded freshman class. They have been in the top seven all year for cross country coach Kyle Levermore, and are the foundation for the foreseeable future.

"It's really been a team that's evolved in real time," said Levermore. "I've seen them grow up a lot, I've seen them grow through each race, I've seen them really come together and have the selfless cohesion that is required at this level."

"When I committed here five years ago, this was my whole goal," said senior Allison Newman. "Being able to stick it out and see that we made the opportunity out of it, it's so exciting."

The race will be held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, with the women set to race at 9:20 a.m on Saturday, Nov. 22.