Fort Hays State Cross Country at
2025 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships
Saturday, November 8
Joplin, Mo. • Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course
Women's 6K - 10 a.m.
Men's 10K - 11:15 a.m.


The Fort Hays State men's and women's cross country teams continue postseason competition this Saturday (Nov. 8) with the 2025 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. Missouri Southern will host the event for a seventh year in a row at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
 
The women's six-kilometer championship will open the festivities this year at 10 a.m., with the men's 10-kilometer race to follow at 11:15 a.m.
 
Tickets for the event are available in advance for $5 per person. Live results will also be posted online here. More information, including course and site maps, can be found on the online championship homepage.
 
The women are one of 36 teams slated to hit the starting line, while the men's race will include student-athletes from 30 different institutions. The FHSU men and women are both ranked 10th in the latest USTFCCCA Central Region Rankings.
 
Unlike regular season events, teams are limited to seven runners per school at the regional. The women's lineup will include seven of the following student-athletes - Eva Cortes, Emily Diercks, Janae Fugitt, Ashlyn Harbaugh, Taylor Hoskinson, Kyra Nippert, Emma Weiner or Cate Wiese. The men's lineup may include Christian Darrah, Cole Krug, Chayse McCullough, Noah Morenz, Hayden Nemechek, Ty Raulston, Austin Ritsema or Ian Weich.
 
Diercks has led the Tiger women this season, winning the MIAA Championship for the second year in a row. The Hoxie, Kan. senior is undefeated against NCAA Division II competition this fall, placing first overall in two of her four races and finishing in front of all other DII runners in the other two races.
 
Darrah has been the top runner for the men's squad this year, earning All-MIAA status for the second time after placing eighth at the league meet last month. The Galva, Kan. senior has placed in the top 10 in three of his four races this fall.
 
The women have qualified for nationals three times, most recently in 2016 when they placed fourth at regionals. The men have advanced to nationals five times, most recently in 2019 when they also finished fourth at the regional meet.
 
The top 25 finishers in each race will earn All-Region status. FHSU had one All-Region performer a year ago, with Diercks placing seventh to advance to the 2024 NCAA Championships
 
The top three teams from each regional meet will automatically advance to the 2025 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Kenosha, Wisc. on November 22. Ten more teams will be selected on an at-large basis, with those selections announced on Monday (Nov. 10).
 
The top two individuals who are not part of a qualifying team and any individual placing in the top five at the regional meet will automatically advance to the national championship. Eight more individuals will be selected at-large.