10,000 Runners Race at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in 2025

In 2025, more than 10,000 total runners from across the United States, traveled to the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, in Columbia, Missouri. The course is not only home the University of Missouri Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams, but has now hosted multiple collegiate championship races. In 2021, the SEC Conference Championships Races, the 2022 NCAA D1 Midwest Regional in 2022, the 2024 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, and the 2025 NCAA D1 Cross Country National Championships. In addition, it has hosted the Missouri State High School Activities Association State Championships each year since 2019.

While there were eleven events at the course with numerous separate divisions, only three of those events were ticketed. With the three ticketed events, over 15,000 tickets were sold between those events. The largest event with runners was the Gans Creek Classic High School Event, a partnership between the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation and Columbia Public Schools.

The 2024 NAIA Cross Country National Championships sold over 1700 total tickets, with travel parties of schools totaling over 1000 and, according to the Destinations International Event Impact Calculator (EIC), are estimated to have a direct economic impact near $1 million . The 2025 NCAA DI Cross Country National Championships sold over 4,800 tickets, with travel parties of schools totaling over 800 and estimated EIC of just under $1.3 million. The City of Columbia CVB/Sports Commission has partnered with Columbia College on the NAIA Championship and University of Missouri on all NCAA Cross Country Championships.

The 2026 SEC Championship Meet will take place at Gans Creek this fall, followed by the 2027 NCAA DI Midwest Regional Championships and 2027 NAIA Cross Country National Championships next year, as well as the 2030 NAIA National Championships.

The Cross Country Course is owned and operated by the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation department and a product of partnerships between the City of Columbia and University of Missouri.