Franson Last Chance
Friday, May 9, 2025
Azusa, Calif
 
Ward Haylett Invitational
Friday, May 9, 2025
Manhattan, Kan.
 
Loper Twilight
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Kearney, Neb.
 
The Fort Hays State track and field team is set to compete in three events this week as the regular season winds down, with athletes looking to secure or improve their national qualifying marks. The Tigers will be represented at the Franson Last Chance, the Ward Haylett Invitational, and the Loper Twilight.

At the Franson Last Chance, distance standout Emily Diercks will compete in the 10,000m late Friday (May 9) night, with the race scheduled for midnight CT. Diercks owns a provisional mark in the 5,000m and recently earned All-MIAA honors with a runner-up finish in that event at the conference championships.

The Ward Haylett Invitational will feature Reba Mader, who continues a stellar outdoor campaign. Mader claimed second place in the 400m hurdles at the MIAA Championships, earning All-MIAA honors and climbing to 29th nationally in the event. She will be joined by the Tiger pole vault crew, which includes Annabeth Baalmann, Brady Deges, and Josiah Ball. Baalmann enters the weekend ranked third nationally, while Deges is tied for 17th in the men's standings.

The Loper Twilight will host the remainder of the squad, as athletes aim to punch their tickets to nationals or improve on their current standings.

In this week's USTFCCCA Outdoor National Rankings, the Fort Hays State men's team is ranked No. 41, while the women sit at No. 47. Regionally, the men hold the No. 11 spot in the Central Region, with the women close behind at No. 14. Within the MIAA standings, the Fort Hays State women hold a seventh spot while the men clock in at eighth.
 
The men's 100m squad are 11th while the 200m team ranks in the top ten at tenth. The 400m group holds steady at 26th while the pole vault squad stands out on the national stage at eighth in event rankings for NCAA DII. The women's pole vault group ranks 14th nationally, while the 5000m squad sits at No. 38.
 
Following this weekend's split, a select group of Tigers will compete in the NCAA Championships. The meet is set for Thursday (May 22) to Saturday (May 24) in Pueblo, Colo.