The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's and women's cross-country teams will travel to Joplin, Mo., to compete in the NCAA Central Region Meet on Saturday this weekend. The men will start with their 10k run beginning at 10 a.m. The women will follow with a 6k run at 11:15 a.m.

View the 6K course here.
View the 10k course here.

Qualifying Criteria

The NCAA takes the top three teams from each regional to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships with 10 teams being selected as at-large bids by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Committee. From an individual perspective, the top two finishers who are not a part of a qualifying team will automatically compete at the NCAA Championships (16 individuals total). All individuals who finish in the top five that are not a part of a qualifying team will also automatically qualify. Eight individuals will then be selected as at-large bids by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Committee.
            
The NCAA Central Region will be the final competition for the Dragons before the NCAA Championships in December. It is the first competition for the Dragons since the NSIC Championships.
            
For the Dragon women, Brooke Baumann finished 34th in the 6k and was the top finisher for the Dragons at the conference meet. Freshman Kaelyn Bergfinished at 45^th, while sophomore Grace Dorsher came in at 84^th. Junior Payton Lane makes her return at the NCAA Central Region after being out at the NSIC Championships with an illness. 
            
At the NSIC meet, Braxton Bruer finished 28th and was the top performer for the MSUM men. Freshman Colin O'Farrell was the next Dragon to finish at 46th place. Adnew Stueven finished 51^st and Joel  Brault finished 52^nd. Freshman James Dorado finished 60^th.
            
Ryan Milner is in his seventh season as head coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead.