JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Pittsburg State University men's cross country team raced to the team title at the 31st annual Missouri Southern State University Stampede Saturday (Sept. 18). The Gorillas posted a low score of 53 points to win the competition by 21 points over second-place finisher MSSU.

Bryce Grahn and Diego Contreras paced the Gorillas in the eight-kilometer race, placing fourth and sixth respectively. Grahn finished the race in 24 minutes, 39.88 seconds while Contreras finished close behind in 24:53.33. Connar Southard placed 11th in 25:03.10.

MSSU's Ryan Riddle (24:14.00) and J.P. Rutledge (24:23.16) finished in the top two individual spots and Simpson Riley added a 10th place finish (25:02.21).

The Gorillas won the meet in the fourth and fifth team spots as Matthew Oglesby finished 15th (25:10.65) and Mason Strader placed 17th (25:14.25). MSSU's fourth and fifth runners finished 21st and 40th overall.

In the women's action, Pitt State placed ninth among 26 competing schools with 248 points. The University of Arkansas won the meet with a low score of 38 points followed by Southwest Baptist University (130).

Lara Murdock led the Gorillas with a 24th place time of 17:54.11 and Hannah Honeyman finished 47th overall in 18:23.59.