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The first two of 17 MIAA Championship trophies will be up for grabs on Saturday as the Bulldog men and women cross country teams compete for conference titles in Joplin, Mo. on the Missouri Southern State University Cross Country Course.

Junior Karen Grauel will look to defend her individual championship from last season.

Grauel won the first MIAA individual title for the women’s program at Truman when she finished the 6K race in 21:18.1 in Hays, Kan. last season.

 Angela Adams (Northwest Missouri) finished second last season and returns for her senior season race while other top competitors include Marlee Tegenkamp (Missouri Southern), Katie Mona (Emporia State) and Kacy Hession (Central Missouri).

Pittsburg State is the defending team champion from 2010 and is one of five MIAA teams ranked in the top 10 in the USTFCCCA South Central regional poll.

The Gorillas are third in the poll followed by Missouri Southern (fourth), Northwest Missouri (fifth), Truman (sixth) and Southwest Baptist (eighth).

The men would look to build on their fourth place showing from last season as Joey Walls will lead the team in his final conference race.

Walls placed 13th last season and is a two-time honorable mention all-conference runner.

Central Missouri won the championship last season and return last year’s top two finishers in Laban Sialo and Dalton Moberly.

The Mules are 10th nationally and first in the South Central region as they join four other MIAA schools in the poll.

Missouri Southern is fourth, Northwest is fifth, Pitt State sixth and Southwest Baptist is eighth.

The Bulldogs appeared briefly in the regional poll a few weeks back.

Courtesy Truman State University