PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's and women's cross country teams will travel to St. Joseph, Mo., Saturday (Oct. 24) to compete in the Griffon Open hosted by Missouri Western State University. The women's five-kilometer race will start at 10 a.m. (CDT), with the men's eight-kilometer race to follow at 10:45 a.m. at the MWSU Cross Country Course.

The Pitt State men enter the meet ranked No. 7 in the most recent United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Top 30 poll, while the Pitt State women are ranked No. 11.

Dylan Sprecker claimed top medalist honors and the Pitt State men claimed the team title in the Pre-Nationals Meet hosted at Rim Rock Farm the last time out on Sunday, Oct. 11. Sprecker won the race in 23 minutes, 53.9 seconds, while John Langill (24:25.5) and Tyler Atkins (24:30.5) also secured top 10 finishes by placing ninth and 10^th, respectively.

Pitt State, the No. 19 ranked team in NCAA Division II, posted a low score of 51 points in the 15-team field that included five additional top 25 squads. Western Colorado finished a distance second place with 93 points, while No. 16 Washburn placed third with 98 points.

The Pitt State women logged a fifth-place team finish in their 18-team field. The No. 10 ranked Gorillas posted a 165 team score to finish behind No. 3 Colorado Mines (84 pts), Western Colorado (85), No. 7 Colo.-Colo. Springs (90 pts) and No. 9 Missouri Southern (144 pts).

Paige Mullen finished second among individuals in the six-kilometer race, crossing the line in 20:57.8. Lorna Rae Pierce also placed fifth in 21:07.5.