FHSU Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The 2022 MIAA Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Friday (Aug. 26), with both the men's and women's teams from Fort Hays State slotted in sixth.
Last year the Tiger women placed sixth at the MIAA Championships, while the men were seventh at the league meet. The women's squad returns one All-MIAA performer in Brooke Navarro.
The Tiger women have finished sixth or better at the league meet every year since 2013, including three finishes in the top three and a runner-up finish in 2017. The men have had at least one All-MIAA performer at each of the last 11 conference meets and have had runners qualify for five of the last nine NCAA DII National Championships.
Nebraska-Kearney and Central Missouri tied for the top spot in the women's poll, while Missouri Southern stood alone atop the men's preseason rankings.
The Tigers are slated to open their season in Hutchinson, Kan. on Thursday (Sept. 1) under the lights at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic. The women's three-mile race will begin at 8:30 p.m., followed by the men's four-mile race at 9:05 p.m.
2022 MIAA Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
T1) Nebraska Kearney – 125 Points [5 First Place Votes]
T1) Central Missouri – 125 Points [2 First Place Votes]
3) Pittsburg State – 121 Points [2 First Place Votes]
4) Northwest Missouri – 120 Points [3 First Place Votes]
5) Rogers State – 97 Points [1 First Place Vote]
6) Fort Hays State – 94 Points
7) Missouri Southern – 87 Points
8) Washburn – 66 Points
9) Missouri Western – 59 Points
10) Emporia State – 41 Points
11) Central Oklahoma – 37 Points
12) Lincoln – 26 Points
13) Newman – 18 Points
2022 MIAA Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1) Missouri Southern – 97 Points [7 First Place Votes]
2) Pittsburg State – 84 Points [2 First Place Votes]
3) Nebraska Kearney – 82 Points [1 First Place Vote]
4) Northwest Missouri – 76 Points
5) Central Missouri – 66 Points
6) Fort Hays State – 50 Points
7) Washburn – 47 Points
8) Emporia State – 38 Points
9) Rogers State – 31 points
10) Missouri Western – 23 Points
11) Newman – 11 Points