FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
VICTORIA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State University men’s cross country team captured a first-place finish in the Sand Plum Invitational on a sunny and breezy Thursday evening (Sept. 15). It was the first of two events the squad will host this season at its home course, the Sand Plum Nature Trail. The Tigers finished first with 19 team points, placing seven runners in the top-eight spots.
Senior Troy Wineinger won the event after traversing the five-kilometer course in 15:17.03, capturing his second career victory at FHSU (2015 Trojan Invite, 9/4/15). Junior transfer Oscar Carmona was the third runner to cross the line, running in 15:42.75. Jacob Thomas (15:44.39) and Layton Werth (15:48.64) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while senior Feysel Rahmeto rounded out the scoring for FHSU with a sixth-place finish, posting a time of 15:53.08.
In all, 20 Tigers completed the race with 16 runners finishing in the top half of the 56-man field. MIAA rival Emporia State finished second with 54 points, 35 back of the FHSU total. Colby CC, Garden City CC and Dodge City CC finished in third, fourth and fifth in the team competition, respectively.
The Tigers will return to action next weekend when they travel to Emporia, Kan. for the Emporia State Invitational Friday, Sept. 23. The men will compete in an eight-kilometer race for the first time this season when the gun goes off at 5:45 p.m.