By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
In their second home meet of the season, the Fort Hays State women’s cross country team claimed a ninth place finish at the Tiger Open on Saturday (Oct. 13). The event brought nearly forty programs from four different states to take on the course at the Sand Plum Nature Trail.
The Tigers accumulated 198 points, finishing with 30 more points than the next team. Air Force captured the team win on the day, totaling 74 points.
The highest finisher for the Tigers out of the 130-runner field was senior Yessenia Gonzales who crossed the line in the 13th position with a time of 18:49.9 in the five-kilometer race. Abigail Stewart completed another top-30 finish with her place at 27th from her time of 19:23.3.
Grace Buessing ran the course in 19:55.1 for a 51st place finish, while Tessa Durnell ran a time of 20:02.2 to come in at the 57th position. Coming in 68th place was Mirena Goncalves, running a time of 20:20.4.
Rounding out the team scoring for the Tigers was Averi Wilson in at 78th place (20:35.4), Rebeca Avelar coming in 103rd with a time of 21:23.3. Carson Pierce ended with a time of 21:39.5 to earn a 110th place finish.
Fort Hays State has three weeks to recover and switch their focus to the 2018 MIAA Championships. That competition will be held Saturday (Nov. 3) in Emporia, Kan., with the race set for an 11 a.m. start.