COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Fort Hays State women's cross country team claimed its second victory in as many races on Friday (Sept. 25), winning the Gans Creek Classic in a 23-team field with 108 points. The Tigers finished 31 points ahead of second-place Western Kentucky, one of four NCAA Division I teams FHSU defeated.

Junior Emma Weiner led the Tigers with a 12th-place finish out of 255 finishers, crossing the line in the six-kilometer race in 21:52.4. Margaret Browning finished 28th in the open race with a time of 22:21.8, followed by Janae Fugitt in 31st at 22:26.5.

Keziah Bachman placed 37th with a time of 22:36.0, while Madelyn Russell rounded out the Tigers' scoring five in 38th at 22:36.3. Four other Tiger runners finished inside the top 90, with Esther Clark-Pavlovich placing 42nd with a time of 22:44.8, Madelynn Nichols finishing 68th at 23:06.0, Jacee Deges coming in 83rd in 23:16.6 and Brenna Murphy clocking 23:21.4 to finish in 90th place.

Carrington Hessen of Rockhurst secured the individual title with a time of 20:48.2, winning by nearly 20 seconds. The Tigers defeated six Division II teams on the day, including Truman State, Southwest Baptist, Rockhurst, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Emporia State and Lincoln. It was the second time the Tigers have claimed victory in Columbia after also winning the Gans Creek Classic in 2024.
 
Looking ahead, Fort Hays State will host the FHSU Tiger Open on Saturday, October 10 at the FHSU Track & Field Facility in Hays. The women's 5K is slated to begin at 10 a.m.

1st - Fort Hays State - 108 points
12th - Emma Weiner - 21:52.4
28th - Margaret Browning - 22:21.8
31st - Janae Fugitt - 22:26.5
37th - Keziah Bachman - 22:36.0
38th - Madelyn Russell - 22:36.3
42nd - Esther Clark-Pavlovich - 22:44.8
68th - Madelynn Nichols - 23:06.0
83rd - Jacee Deges - 23:16.6
90th - Brenna Murphy - 23:21.4
236th - Natalia Onelio - 27:22.7
Elsie Rickstrew - DNF