Fort Hays State Cross Country
at Ollie Isom Invitational
Friday, September 11, 2026
El Dorado, Kan. • El Dorado Legion Disc Golf Course
Women's 5K • 9 a.m.
Men's 8K • 9:45 a.m.
 
The Fort Hays State men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2026 season at the Ollie Isom Invitational Friday morning (Sept. 11). The women's five-kilometer race will kick things off at 9 a.m. before the men's eight-kilometer trek follows at 9:45 a.m. at El Dorado Legion Disc Golf Course.
 
The men enter the race ranked 10th in Division II Central Region, announced Wednesday (Sept. 2) by the USTFCCCA. The women's and men's squad were both picked sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

This is the first season that the Tigers have opened the year at Ollie Isom Invitational. This is the Tigers' first season under new head coach Justin Johnson.

Potential entries for the women's squad include Keziah Bachman, Margaret Browning, Esther Clark-Pavlovich, Jacee Deges, Janae Fugitt, Brenna Murphy, Madelynn Nichols, Elsie Rickstrew, Madelyn Russell, Emma Weiner and Cate Wiese.
 
The men's team is expected to run Taran Castro, Brady Conway, Kaiden Esfeld, Trevor Fry, Broxton Gall, Cole Krug, Hayden Nemechek, Ty Raulston, Austin Ritsema, Quade Smith, Luke Wessel and Emery Wolfe.
 
Fifteen Kansas colleges and universities from all levels of competition are scheduled to compete, including Bethany, Butler CC, Coffeyville CC, Colby CC, Dodge City CC, Emporia State, FHSU, Fort Hays Tech Northwest, Garden City CC, Hastings, Highland CC, Manhattan Christian, McPherson, Neosho County CC and Pratt CC.
 
Returners for the women's team include Emma Weiner who was in FHSU's scoring five in all but one race last season. Cate Wiese finished in FHSU's top five three times, while Esther Clark-Pavlovich, Janae Fugitt and Eva Cortes finished in FHSU's top five twice.
 
The men return eight athletes who finished in the scoring five for the Tigers at least once last fall, led by Cole Krug who was in the top five of four of the six races. Hayden Nemechek finished in the FHSU's top five two times last fall.
 
Looking ahead, Fort Hays State will compete once more this month on Friday, September 25 at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo. before hosting the FHSU Tiger Open on Saturday, October 10. The Tigers will end the regular season at the MWSU Conference Preview in St. Joseph, Mo. on Saturday, October 24.