Meet The Lady Bears...

Our program is driven by a mission of constantly seeking the highest levels in the Missouri Valley Conference and the NCAA, both individually and as a team.  To reach these levels we seek athletes who are personally committed, disciplined, and display a work ethic that breed’s success.  These athletes are motivated to succeed academically to secure their future, and athletically to enrich their lives while preparing themselves to become successful citizens.  We feel the quality of the athlete determines the quality of the program and all its successes.  There is a price to pay for anything worth doing; however, the price is not anything near the benefits that can be realized personally both academically and athletically.

Student-athletes at Missouri State are given the chance to reach their ultimate potential as both academically and athletically.  Great traditions, an excellent education and top notch facilities are just the start of what Missouri State has to offer.   

If you think you are interested in becoming a member of our program please take some time to look through linked information provided.  Once you have looked through the information please complete and submit our online questionnaire.

Athletically the Missouri State University Lady Bears compete at the NCAA Division I level, the highest rank of collegiate athletics.  As a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) the Lady Bears face some of the strongest competition in the Midwest.  In track and field last spring Missouri State women had the fastest performances among Division-I schools in Missouri in 9 of 12 track events (See Performance List).

Within the strong Missouri Valley Conference the Lady Bears have been a dominant team in cross-country and track and field.  Over the past decade Missouri State has won more conference team titles than any other school.  With 12 conference team titles, including four of the last seven titles in cross-country, the Lady Bears consistency at the top is unmatched.  Missouri State's conference championship finish in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field combined is an MVC best with an impressive average finish of 1.67; more than two places ahead of the next MVC school.

Individually current and recent Lady Bear runners have earned multiple All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American honors through cross country and track and field.  Missouri State cross country and track athletes have also qualified on to the NCAA and USA National championships and even the Olympic Games where they have shown that no level of success is out of reach for Lady Bear athletes.  MSU has had track and field Olympians in two of the last three Olympic Games.

Missouri State’s cross country and track and field program believes that if you want to be the best, you have to race the best.  We design our competition schedules with that philosophy in mind.  Lady Bear athletes travel nationally so they can race at prestigious competitions such as the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Ca., the Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA, the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn., and the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Ks., just to name a few.  Missouri State athletes know that their success will never be limited by a lack of competition and that they will always be challenged. 

Missouri State’s coaches believe that successful student-athletes must set priorities to balance a lifestyle that includes school, athletics, family, a social life, and other extracurricular activities.  At Missouri State we believe a student-athlete’s priorities should be:  Family-School-Team.   

At Missouri State we take many steps to insure that our student-athletes are successful in the classroom.  Lady Bear athletes have access to the athlete-only Academic Achievement Center where a range of services and resources are available to them.  From two computer labs, a study hall, nightly tutor sessions in all subjects needed, life skills courses to individual academic advisement it is obvious that we have our student-athletes best interest and education as our top priority. 

Our success in the classroom rivals any program in the NCAA.  This past fall the Missouri State cross country team ranked seventh nationally for team GPA and has had a team GPA above 3.5 for two straight years.  In addition last year every member of the Lady Bear cross country team had at least a 3.0 semester and/or cumulative grade point average.  Missouri State track and field is also perennial Academic All-American team with well over a 3.0 team GPA average to it's credit as well.

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