EL DORADO, Kan. - The Fort Hays State men's cross country team captured a first-place finish at the Ollie Isom Invitational on Friday (Sept. 11). The Tigers claimed the team title with 52 team points in the eight-kilometer race.
 
Sophomore Hayden Nemechek led the way for the Tigers, placing fourth out of 112 finishers with a time of 26:05.4. Junior Cole Krug followed with a seventh-place finish after clocking in at 26:42.6, while sophomore Taran Castro crossed the line eighth in 26:45.7.
 
Junior Ty Raulston gave the Tigers four runners inside the top 11, placing 11th with a time of 27:09.8. Freshman Broxton Gall rounded out the scoring five with a 22nd-place finish after posting a time of 27:56.5.
 
Austin Ritsema finished 23rd in 28:01.8, followed by Trevor Fry in 25th with a time of 28:05.7. Quade Smith placed 29th after crossing the line in 28:18.6, while Luke Wessel finished 35th in 28:42.4.
 
Brady Conway placed 39th with a time of 28:51.7, followed closely by Emery Wolfe in 40th at 28:52.2. Kaiden Esfeld rounded out the Tiger competitors, placing 56th with a time of 30:02.6.
 
Dodge City CC's Josue Vega claimed the individual title with a time of 25:28.9.
 
Fort Hays State will return to action in two weeks (Sept. 25) when the Tigers travel to Columbia, Mo. for the Gans Creek Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri.
 
1st - Fort Hays State- 52 points
4th - Hayden Nemechek - 26:05.4
7th - Cole Krug - 26:42.6
8th - Taran Castro - 26:45.7
11th - Ty Raulston - 27:09.8
22nd - Broxton Gall - 27:56.5
23rd - Austin Ritsema - 28:01.8
25th - Trevor Fry - 28:05.7
29th - Quade Smith - 28:18.6
35th - Luke Wessel - 28:42.4
39th - Brady Conway - 28:51.7
40th - Emery Wolfe - 28:52.2
56th - Kaiden Esfeld - 30:02.6