By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s and women’s cross country teams swept the team titles at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic on Friday (Sept. 1), with junior Regan Hodsden also capturing the individual title on the women’s side. The men were first out of 13 schools with just 26 points after placing eight runners inside the top 20, while the women won with 31 points, 23 points clear of second-place Tabor College.
The Tiger women took care of business to start the evening, with four of the first 10 runners to cross the finish line clad in black and gold. Hodsden, a returning All-American, picked up her first cross country victory in a Tiger uniform after crossing the line in 17:34.8. Jaycee Vath was second out of 91 runners, completing the three-mile race in 17:59.4.
Darian Hudgeons gave the Tigers a trio of athletes in the top five, traversing the course in 18:10.4. Faith Littleposted a time of 19:05.7 to finish 10th, while freshman Abbye Hudson rounded out the Tiger scoring five with a 13th place finish in her collegiate debut with a time of 19:16.3.
After finishing third at this event a year ago, Grant Bradleyled the Tigers to the line with a runner-up finish with a time of 20:14.0. Two other Tigers finished in the top six, including Jaret Pfizenmaier, who was fourth after crossing the finish line in 20:36.2 and Ethan Fisher, who ran the four-mile race in 20:48.4 to place sixth.
A pair of redshirt freshmen rounded out the scoring five for the Tigers, with Noah Morenz placing 12th in 21:07.8 and Corbin Ricke close behind in 13th with a time of 21:12.9.
The Tigers will next return home to host the 2023 FHSU Tiger Open next Friday (Sept. 6). Due to forecasted high temperatures, the women’s 5K will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the men’s 4-mile race to follow at 10:10 a.m. It will be the inaugural collegiate competition at the Rolling Ridge Cross Country Course, located between Enersys and the Ellis County Fair Grounds near I-70 and state highway 183 bypass.
Full FHSU Women’s Results
1st – Fort Hays State – 31 points
1st – Regan Hodsden – 17:34.8
2nd – Jaycee Vath – 17:59.4
5th – Darian Hudgeons – 18:10.4
10th – Faith Little – 19:05.7
13th – Abbye Hudson – 19:16.3
17th – Brenna Murphy – 19:25.2
19th – Madison Sutterfield – 19:38.7
22nd – Ashlyn Harbaugh – 19:44.1
26th – Hattie Lukert – 20:02.2
32nd – Alayna Cossaart – 20:25.8
41st – Amelia Foster – 20:57.1
Full FHSU Men’s Results
1st – Fort Hays State – 26 points
2nd – Grant Bradley – 20:14.0
4th – Jaret Pfizenmaier – 20:36.2
6th – Ethan Fisher – 20:48.4
12th – Noah Morenz – 21:07.8
13th – Corbin Ricke – 21:12.9
14th – Trever Medina – 21:18.2
19th – Carsyn Turpin – 21:32.3
20th – Kaiden Esfeld – 21:34.19
24th – Javyn Contreras – 21:59.6
30th – Andrew Waller – 22:13.9
37th – Daniel Bechle – 22:35.0
50th – Isaac Radke – 23:16.5
52nd – Ethan Lang – 23:24.1
53rd – Ethan Emmons – 23:26.3
71st – Max Bowyer – 24:32.8