September 20, 2025
Joplin, MO – The Nelson University Lions cross country squads made their mark at the 36th Annual Southern Stampede, hosted by Missouri Southern State University. On a morning marked by weather delays that cut short warm-up time, the Lions rose to the challenge with resilience, speed, and history-making performances.
The Lady Lions stole the spotlight by shattering the program 5K record by nearly a full minute, averaging a blistering 20:36 as a squad. Their effort produced a signature upset over John Brown University who are currently receiving national votes while also ensuring Nelson outpaced every Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) school in the race.
Every competitor in purple and grey clocked a personal best:
Men Battle Through 8K Debuts
On the men's side, Nelson showed grit and promise. Freshman Joseph Helm, turned in an impressive 26:28 in his first collegiate 8K, fast enough to finish behind only one SAC competitor.
The Lions' lineup backed him up with strong efforts:
Coach's Take
Head Coach Robert Herrera summed up the day with pride:
"I'm incredibly proud of our women's team. They not only upset some of the top programs in our conference, but every single runner delivered a personal best. On the men's side, Joseph Helm showed tremendous toughness and still ran a very promising debut 8K. Emmanuel and Ezra also demonstrated grit in their races and strong finishes. Overall, I couldn't be prouder of both teams and the tremendous growth they've already shown so early in the season."
Next Up
Nelson heads into its next meet riding momentum, fueled by historic times on the women's side and gritty debuts from the men.
