Crotty Commits to Northwest Missouri State University

By Rebecca Johnson
Auburn senior and cross country and track standout Liston Crotty has signed to continue her athletic career at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, this fall.
Crotty, the first four-time state medalist in the cross country 5K at Auburn and a sixth-place state medalist in track, will compete in both sports at the NCAA Division II school.
She placed sixth at the Class C state cross country meet in 2022, fifth in 2023 and 2024, and 10th in 2025. Crotty also earned All-State honors from the Nebraska Coaches Association in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and ECNC All-Conference honors in 2024 and 2025. The Auburn cross country team finished as Class C state runner-up in 2022 and 2023 before winning the state championship in 2024.
A Bearcat Advantage scholarship recipient, Crotty plans to study psychology and said she is eager to compete at the NCAA Division II level.
Her father, Ryan Crotty, said the family is proud of her accomplishments.
“We are proud of all the athletic achievements, but the academic ones as well,” he said. “She is a dedicated, kind and caring person, and it is amazing to see her hard work pay off.”