KEARNEY, Neb. - The Fort Hays State men's cross country team placed seventh at the 2021 MIAA Championships on Saturday thanks to a sixth-place finish from senior Robbie Schmidt. The Tigers compiled 163 points between their top five runners, just two behind of sixth-place Emporia State.
Senior Robbie Schmidt picked up his first All-MIAA honor with his sixth-place finish after crossing the line in 24:50.35. The time was 42 seconds faster than his previous best at the eight-kilometer league meet set in 2019. He finished just three-tenths of a second behind UNK's Myles Bach for fifth place.
Grant Bradley missed the all-conference podium by just three places, coming in 23rd with a time of 25:50.94. Jaret Pfizenmaier ran a season-best 26:30.01 to come in 40th, with Aaron Mangan two spots (42nd) and less than a second behind at 26:30.93. Gavin Brady rounded out the Tiger top five in 61st place with a time of 27:04.37.
With five runners in the top 20, Pittsburg State took home the team title with 44 points. Missouri Southern's Ryan Riddle won the race by four seconds with a time of 24:28.42.
Fort Hays State will return to the course in two weeks (Nov. 6) when the Tigers travel to Joplin, Mo. for the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. The men's 10-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
Full FHSU Results
7th - Team - 163 points
6th - Robbie Schmidt - 24:50.35
23rd - Grant Bradley - 25:50.94
40th - Jaret Pfizenmaier - 26:30.01
42nd - Aaron Mangan - 26:30.93
61st - Gavin Brady - 27:04.37
66th - Javyn Contreras - 27:07.20
76th - Caleb Carrasco - 27:40.24
85th - Edwin Garcia - 28:13.92
91st - Trever Medina - 28:26.68
FHSU Athletics