BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Central Missouri Mules Cross Country team opened the 2025 season with a fifth-place finish at the SBU Bearcat Invitational on Friday, Sept. 5, at the Bolivar Golf Course in Bolivar.
 
The Mules were highlighted by three top 30 finishers, including redshirt senior Ty Lewis, who finished the 4-mile race in 22nd place with a time of 20:35.18, Stockton, Mo. native Colby Adams (20:41.42) placed 24th, and senior Alejandro Malave crossed the finish line in 20:44.88, taking 26^th position.
 
Rounding out the scoring for Central Missouri was Lee's Summit, Mo. native Sam Mathis in 35^th-place with a time of 21:10.16, and sophomore Jaise Bardwell in 39th-place crossing the finish line in 21:29.84.
 
Missouri Southern took the top spot with 37 points, while Missouri S&T (65 points), Crowder CC (66 points), and host team SBU (112 points) finished ahead of the Mules.
 
Central Missouri continues the 2025 season on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Missouri Southern Stampede from the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin, Mo.