By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
VICTORIA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s cross country team finished ninth at the FHSU Tiger Open Saturday morning (Oct. 9) at Sand Plum Nature Trail. A total of 183 runners from 15 different schools completed the men’s Gold 8K race, while 683 runners crossed the finish line across all four races on the day.
Robbie Schmidt shaved more than 40 seconds off his personal-best 8K time, placing fifth with a time of 24:17.0. His previous 8K PR was a 24:57.6 set at this course two years ago. Schmidt was the top finisher from an MIAA school, finishing 2.5 seconds in front of his nearest conference competitor. Grant Bradley completed his first collegiate 8K in 25:26.7, placing 41st. Erick Estrada also ran his best time of the season by more than 34 seconds, finishing 63rd with a time of 25:54.9. Jaret Pfizenmaier came in 95th place with a time of 26:44.5. Gavin Brady was also competing for the first time at the collegiate level, placing 108th after traversing the course in 26:57.2.
Adams State finished first as a team with a total of 84 team points, while New Mexico Highlands’ Andrew Amor took the individual title with a time of 23:45.9.
The Tigers will return to action in two weeks when they compete at the MIAA Championships in Kearney, Neb. on October 23. The men’s 8K is slated to begin at 12:15 p.m. at Kearney Country Club.
Full FHSU Results
9th – Team – 222 points
5th – Robbie Schmidt – 24:17.0
41st – Grant Bradley – 25:26.7
63rd – Erick Estrada – 25:54.9
95th – Jaret Pfizenmaier – 26:44.5
108th – Gavin Brady – 26:57.2
120th – Trever Medina – 27:19.3
127th – Aaron Mangan – 27:35.1
131st – Matthew Schrag – 27:39.9
139th – Edwin Garcia – 27:54.0
142nd – Caleb Carrasco – 28:01.1
154th – Javyn Contreras – 28:23.7
157th – Ethan Lang – 28:33.6
166th – Sebastian Garcia – 29:19.2
170th – Isaac Radke – 29:37.0
173rd – Ethan Emmons – 29:47.3
Women’s race
The Fort Hays State women’s cross country team placed sixth at the FHSU Tiger Open Saturday morning (Oct. 9) at Sand Plum Nature Trail. The Tigers were third out of the eight MIAA programs in attendance, and just three points back of 25th-ranked Northwest Missouri State.
A total of 170 runners from 17 different schools completed the women’s Gold 5K race. Brooke Navarro was the first Tiger to cross the line, doing so in 18:00.1 to place sixth. The time was more than 32 seconds faster than her previous best 5K as a Tiger. Abigail Stewart improved her 5K PR by nearly five seconds with a time of 18:33.6, good for 20th place. Emily Salmans was just behind Stewart, placing 23rd after crossing the line in 18:36.9, more than 39 seconds faster than her previous collegiate-best 5K. Jaycee Vath posted a season-best time of 19:11.3 to place 45th, while Carson Pierce rounded out the Tiger top five in 53rd with a time of 19:22.7, more than 11 seconds faster than her previous top 5K time.
Westminster College out of Utah took the team title with a total of 99 points. Northwest Missouri State’s Caroline Cunningham captured the individual title after completing the race in 17:33.8. A total of 683 runners crossed the finish line across all four races on the day.
The Tigers will return to action in two weeks when they compete at the MIAA Championships in Kearney, Neb. on October 23. The women’s 6K is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. at Kearney Country Club.
Full FHSU Results
6th – Team – 131 points
6th – Brooke Navarro – 18:00.1
20th – Abigail Stewart – 18:33.6
23rd – Emily Salmans – 18:36.9
45th – Jaycee Vath – 19:11.3
53rd – Carson Pierce – 19:22.7
60th – Mya Navarro – 19:29.7
114th – Darian Hudgeons – 20:37.3
117th – Tabitha Stowers – 20:39.2
118th – Hayley Burks – 20:40.7
132nd – Hannah Wiebe – 21:04.8
DNF – Gretchen Kuffel