Fort Hays State Cross Country at
Griffon Open
Saturday, October 24, 2026
St. Joseph, Mo. - Griffon Cross Country Course
Women's 5K - 10 a.m.
Men's 8K - 10:45 a.m.

The Fort Hays State men's and women's cross country teams will wrap up the regular season Saturday (Oct. 24) when the Tigers travel to St. Joseph, Mo., for the MWSU Conference Preview at the Griffon Cross Country Course. The women's 5K will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 10:45 a.m. Results will be available online here.
 
Fort Hays State will compete against a field of regional opponents, with 14 men's teams and 15 women's teams currently entered in the meet. With the MIAA Championships looming two weeks later on the same course, the field includes almost all of the conference, including Central Missouri, Emporia State, Missouri Southern, Missouri Western, Nebraska-Kearney, Newman, Northwest Missouri State, Pittsburg State, Rogers State and Washburn. Arkansas-Fort Smith and the Central Oklahoma women are the only league schools not entered in the Griffon Open. Quincy is also listed in the women's field, while Truman, Southwest Baptist and Westminster (Mo.) will compete on both sides.
 
The Fort Hays State women's lineup for the MWSU Conference Preview includes Keziah Bachman, Margaret Browning, Esther Clark-Pavlovich, Eva Cortes, Jacee Deges, Janae Fugitt, Brenna Murphy, Madelynn Nichols, Elsie Rickstrew, Madelyn Russell and Emma Weiner.
 
The men's lineup includes Taran Castro, Brady Conway, Broxton Gall, Cole Krug, Farrin Mangelson, Hayden Nemechek, Ty Raulston, Austin Ritsema, Kendrik Selensky, Quade Smith, Luke Wessel and Emery Wolfe.
 
This is FHSU's first time competing in St. Joseph since the Griffons hosted the 2024 MIAA Championships. The women finished third in the league that year, with Emily Diercks McCullough claiming her first of two individual conference titles. The men placed eighth at the league meet that season.
 
Both Fort Hays State teams are coming off strong performances at the FHSU Tiger Open on Oct. 10 in Hays. The women's team placed second with 51 points, while the men finished sixth with 126 points.
 
The women's team was led by junior Emma Weiner, who placed fourth in the 5K with a time of 18:16.3. Janae Fugitt followed in 11th at 18:46.0, while Margaret Browning finished 16th in 18:49.5. Madelynn Nichols placed 18th in 18:54.5, and Esther Clark-Pavlovich rounded out the Tigers' top five in 21st with a time of 19:02.5.
 
Madelyn Russell finished 25th in 19:10.3, followed by Keziah Bachman in 26th at 19:11.9. Jacee Deges placed 30th in 19:14.2, while Elsie Rickstrew finished 40th in 19:37.7. Brenna Murphy crossed the line in 41st at 19:41.7, and Eva Cortes placed 83rd in 21:56.3.
 
The men's team was led by Farrin Mangelson, who placed 12th in the home 8K with a time of 25:05.4. Hayden Nemechek finished 24th in 25:35.6, followed by Taran Castro in 31st at 25:48.8.
 
Austin Ritsema placed 43rd in 26:10.4, while Cole Krug finished 44th in 26:10.9 to round out the Tigers' top five. Quade Smith finished 46th in 26:15.0, and Ty Raulston placed 50th in 26:18.7.
 
Luke Wessel finished 72nd in 27:06.9, followed by Emery Wolfe in 76th at 27:13.2 and Broxton Gall in 82nd at 27:21.6. Kendrik Selensky placed 89th in 27:40.3, Brady Conway finished 90th in 27:44.1, and Kaiden Esfeld rounded out the Fort Hays State lineup in 108th at 28:55.7.
 
Looking ahead, the Tigers will return to St. Joseph on November 7 to open the postseason with the MIAA Championships. The men's 8K race will open the day at 10 a.m., with the women's 6K to follow at 11 a.m.