By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
JOPLIN, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s cross country team placed sixth out of 31 teams at the 2024 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships Saturday (Nov. 9) at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course on the campus of Missouri Southern. It is FHSU’s best finish at the regional meet since 2016.
Junior Emily Diercks’ seventh-place finish gave the team an All-Region performer for the third year in a row. Diercks navigated the six-kilometer course in 21:12.7. Jaycee Vath locked in a 28th-place finish with a time of 21:52.4, while Taylor Hoskinson also broke the 22-minute barrier after crossing the line in 21:56.2, good for 33rd place. Ashlyn Harbaugh traversed the course in 22:15.0 to place 45th, with Makenzie Premer rounding out the FHSU top five in 64th place with a time of 22:34.9.
Augustana took home the team title with 82 team points, while U-Mary’s Alyssa Becker secured the individual title with a time of 20:20.2.
Augustana, Pittsburg State and U-Mary all locked in automatic bids to the 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif. on November 23, while Winona State’s Sophia Taarud and Oklahoma Baptist’s Sophia Strange secured auto bids as individuals. Ten more teams and at least eight individuals will be selected on an at-large basis, with those selections being announced on Monday (Nov. 11).
Full FHSU Women’s Results
6th – Team – 177 points
7th – Emily Diercks – 21:12.7
28th – Jaycee Vath – 21:52.4
33rd – Taylor Hoskinson – 21:56.2
45th – Ashlyn Harbaugh – 22:15.0
64th – Makenzie Premer – 22:34.9
77th – Darian Hudgeons – 22:46.9
78th – Emma Weiner – 22:47.1
Men
JOPLIN, Mo. – The Fort Hays State men’s cross country team finished in front of 19 schools Saturday (Nov. 9) at the 2024 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships held at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course on the campus of Missouri Southern, placing 12th in the field of 31 schools. It is the second-straight year the Tigers finished 12th at the regional meet.
Competing on a packed 10-kilometer course with a total of 213 runners, Jaret Pfizenmaier led the team with a 33rd-place finish after posting a time of 31:35.5. Brady Stegman (32:03.0) and Ethan Fisher (32:05.1) finished back-to-back in 56th and 57th, respectively, with Christian Darrah crossing the line in 32:48.2 to place 94th. Noah Morenz rounded out the Tiger top five with a time of 32:51.2, good for 98th place.
East Central took home the team title with 71 team points after placing five runners inside the top 17. Augustana’s Ryan Hartman secured the individual title with a time of 30:07.8.
ECU, Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State all locked in automatic bids to the 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif. on November 23, while Hartman, Harding’s Josphat Meli and Washburn’s Donald Kibet secured auto bids as individuals. Ten more teams and at least eight individuals will be selected on an at-large basis, with those selections being announced on Monday (Nov. 11).
Full FHSU Men’s Results
12th – Team – 338 points
33rd – Jaret Pfizenmaier – 31:35.5
56th – Brady Stegman – 32:03.0
57th – Ethan Fisher – 32:05.1
94th – Christian Darrah – 32:48.2
98th – Noah Morenz – 32:51.2
109th – Chayse McCullough – 32:57.6
112th – Cole Krug – 33:05.3