This year's edition of one of the nation's largest cross country events will start at 9 am on Saturday morning at the Missouri Southern course just north of Fred G. Hughes Stadium. The women's collegiate 5k will start at 9 am followed by the men's collegiate 8k at 9:45 am. The high school girls varsity 5k will begin at 10:45 am with the boys varsity 5k starting at 11:30 am. Two junior varsity 5k races start at noon and at 12:30, respectively, with the "fun run" beginning at 1 pm.

The collegiate awards ceremony will be at 11 am with the high school awards being handed out at 1:30 pm.

The men's race features five division II nationally ranked squads, including number four ranked Abilene Christian University. Harding is ranked 11th, followed by Southwest Baptist at 18th and Pittsburg State and Drury at 23rd and 24th, respectively. The Lions are ranked fifth in the South Central Region and are just outside the national rankings. Lindenwood University (22nd) and Oklahoma Christian (23rd) are ranked nationally in the NAIA and the University of Arkansas is ranked 18th in division I.

The Southern women are one of three division II nationally ranked teams racing and are the highest ranked in the race coming in this week at No. 11. The women are ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region. Harding is 20th, while Pittsburg State is 24th. The Lindenwood University women are ranked 25th in the NAIA poll, while the University of Arkansas women are ranked 27th.

The Stampede, which annually ranks as the largest cross country event in the midwest and one of the largest in the country, routinely brings in more than 5,000 individuals to the Joplin community. It has been estimated that this one event has nearly a half a million dollar economic impact on the city of Joplin and the surrounding communities.