FHSU Athletics
NEW ORLEANS - The Fort Hays State women's cross country team will head to the 2024 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships ranked 23rd in the country according to the latest release of the USTFCCCA National Coaches' Poll.
The Tigers have been ranked in each regular season release of the poll this season. FHSU entered the poll in 30th and climbed as high as 20th heading into conference championship week.
Fort Hays State accumulated 70 points in the balloting process, down slightly from 79 in the last release. After placing third at the MIAA Championships, the Tigers are the third-highest ranked MIAA program in this week's release, behind No. 12 Pittsburg State and No. 20 Rogers State. Two other league rivals trail the Tigers in No. 24 Northwest Missouri State and No. 26 Nebraska-Kearney.
Eight teams from the Central Region are listed among the top 30 in the country, with the Tigers ranking sixth in the region. Augustana is the top team in the region at No. 8 nationally while UMary and Winona State rank 18th and 19th, respectively.
Fort Hays State won three straight races during the regular season, emerging victorious at the FHSU Tiger Open, the Gans Creek Classic and the ESU Invitational. The Tigers finished behind a DII team only twice so far this season, placing third at the MIAA Championships.
The Tigers will continue their postseason on Saturday (Nov. 9) when they travel to Joplin, Mo. for the 2024 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. The women's six-kilometer championship is set to begin at 11:15 a.m.