St. Louis, Mo. - College of the Ozarks finished second in the men's race and won the women's team title Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Mikayla Sherrill Fall Cross-Country Classic in St. Louis. Nolyn Corder claimed the men's individual championship. Emilie Zylstra led the Bobcats women with a fourth-place finish in the two-race meet.

In the women's competition, the Bobcats totaled 25 points to finish ahead of St. Mary-of-the-Woods with 56 and McKendree with 76. Zylstra ran 19:21.1 and earned the first scoring position, while Tia Bethards placed sixth overall in 19:54.8. Maryville's Ilene Limberg won the 49-runner race in a personal-best 18:04.3. Maryville claimed the first three individual places but had only four finishers and did not receive a team score.

The Bobcats secured their women's team victory with a compact scoring pack. Ella Howard finished 10th in 20:33.2, Khloe Clemence took 11th in 20:42.2 and Emma Dixon placed 12th in a personal-best 20:51.7. Those three consecutive finishers crossed within 18.5 seconds of one another, completing a scoring lineup that placed all five runners among the first 12 overall.

Gracie Vestal followed in 14th with a season-best 21:27.7, giving the Bobcats six finishers among the top 14. Aryssa Speights placed 21st in 22:11.3, and Acacia Sorenson completed the eight-runner women's contingent in 23rd at 22:18.0.

In the men's competition, Corder covered the course in 25:44.0 to lead the 52-runner field, finishing 9.4 seconds ahead of Christopher Boyd of St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Carson Knight took third in a personal-best 26:33.9, giving the Bobcats two of the first three finishers. Landon Jones added a personal-best 27:23.3 for 10th place, completing the team's three top-10 performances.

The Bobcats scored 55 points, eight behind Maryville (Mo.) and narrowly ahead of McKendree's 57 and St. Mary-of-the-Woods' 59. Cody Henderson finished 16th in 28:07.2 as the team's fourth runner. Ethan Howard completed the five scoring positions with a 25th-place finish in 29:35.4.

A close grouping followed Howard across the line. Nate Van Foeken finished 26th in a personal-best 29:36.6, and Michael Kincaid placed 27th in 29:44.5, putting three consecutive Bobcats finishers within 9.1 seconds. Trayden Bailey took 30th in 30:15.3, while Brady Rose finished 43rd in a season-best 33:02.4. The nine-runner men's contingent recorded three personal bests and one season best.

The Bobcats and Lady Cats now set their sights on the Sooner Athletic Conference Meet which will be held November 7 at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.