JOPLIN, Mo. - Fort Hays State's Emily Diercks-McCullough continued her impressive senior season by claiming the 2025 NCAA Division II Central Region Championship Saturday morning (Nov. 8), finishing more than 10 seconds in front of the second place runner. In the process, McCullough locked down her spot in the NCAA Division II National Championship race for a second year in a row. The Tigers finished 10th as a team in the 36-team field.
 
The Hoxie, Kan. native completed the six-kilometer course at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country course in 20:32.6, earning All-Region honors for the second year in a row. She sat in second place at the midway point but was able to pass Winona State's Sophia Taarud over the final three kilometers and pull away from the rest of the field. She is the first cross country regional champion in the team's Division II history and has yet to lose to a DII opponent this season.
 
Emma Weiner was the next Tiger to cross the line, placing 33rd out of 236 competitors with a time of 22:03.0. Taylor Hoskinson finished 47th after navigating the course in 22:18.0, with Ashlyn Harbaugh one spot back in 48th with a time of 22:20.1. Janae Fugitt traversed the course in 23:04.3, finishing 103rd overall.
 
Winona State secured the team title with 99 team points thanks to a trio of All-Region performances.
 
McCullough will head to Kenosha, Wisc. in two weeks for the NCAA Division II Championship, which will be held at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course on Saturday, November 22.
 
Full FHSU Results
10th - Fort Hays State - 232 points
1st - Emily Diercks-McCullough - 20:32.6
33rd - Emma Weiner - 22:03.0
47th - Taylor Hoskinson - 22:18.0
48th - Ashlyn Harbaugh - 22:20.1
103rd - Janae Fugitt - 23:04.3
105th - Eva Cortes - 23:07.7
119th - Cate Wiese - 23:24.3