JOPLIN, Mo. – The Mules cross country team began their season with a fourth place at the Missouri Southern Stampede on Saturday morning.
 
Central Missouri had three top-20 individual finishers including sophomore Cooper Palmer, along with freshmen Paul Korir and Brian Mitei. 
 
Korir ran the 8K in a time of 24:46.91 which was good enough for 10^th place (10 points scored) while Mitei finished on his heels at 24:51.47 in 11^th place (11 points scored). Palmer crossed the finish line in 16^th place, scoring 14 points with a time of 25:08.04.
 
Sophomore Bryan O'Barr clocked in at 25:38.83 in 36^th place (31 points scored), plus freshman Alejandro Malave rounded out the Mules scoring at 26:21.81 in 71^st place (63 points scored).
 
The Missouri Southern Lions came away with the team title scoring 48 points thanks to the top two individual performances from Gidieon Kimutai and Ryan Riddle respectively.
 
The Mules' next meet is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30 at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo. beginning at 9:00 a.m.