KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Fort Hays State women's cross country team will open the season next weekend ranked third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, announced Friday (Aug. 29) by the league office.
 
The Tigers are slotted third after finishing in that same position at each of the last two MIAA Championships. FHSU has placed in the top three at the league meet five times over the last nine seasons.
 
Reigning champions Pittsburg State also occupy the same spot at the top of the poll.The Gorillas were not a unanimous selection, however, with PSU earning just eight of 13 first-place votes. Rogers State is ranked second with three first-place votes, while FHSU is in front of a pair of teams that received the other top votes in No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 6 Missouri Southern.
 
Head coach Dr. Jason McCullough, entering his 21st season in charge of the cross country program at FHSU, returns a veteran lineup, including five of the seven runners to finish in FHSU's scoring lineup at least once last season. Emily Diercks enters her senior season after winning the MIAA individual Championship last season. She went on to earn All-Region status and earn a spot in the field at the 2024 NCAA Championships where she placed 71st.
 
Other returners include Emma Weiner and Taylor Hoskinson, who both ranked in FHSU's scoring five in all but one race last season. Ashlyn Harbaugh was in the top five of three races in 2024, while Makenzie Premer finished in FHSU's top five twice.
 
The Tigers will open the season next Saturday (Sept. 6) when they travel to Wichita, Kan. for Wichita State's JK Gold Classic. FHSU will compete twice more on the road before concluding the regular season at home with the FHSU Tiger Open on October 25.


 
2025 MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [8] – 138 points
2. Rogers State [3] – 124 points
3. Fort Hays State – 111 points
T4. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 108 points
T4. Northwest Missouri – 108 points
6. Missouri Southern [1] – 94 points
7. Washburn – 83 points
8. Emporia State – 62 points
9. Central Missouri – 60 points
10. Missouri Western – 49 points
11. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 35 points
12. Newman – 27 points
13. Central Oklahoma – 15 points
[#] - Number of First Place Votes