JOPLIN, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s cross country team claimed an eighth place finish at the 2018 installment of the NCAA Division II Central Regional Championships. Among MIAA programs, FHSU finished fourth. The event was hosted by Missouri Southern University in Joplin, Mo on Saturday (Nov. 17). FHSU finished the day with 292 total team points in the 237 runner 6K race.

Leading the charge for the Tigers was Yessenia Gonzales who navigated the course with a time of 21:56.1 to finish in 17th place. That time was strong enough for Gonzales to earn All-Regional Honors for the first time in her Tiger career.

Mirena Goncalves crossed the finish line in 42nd place while boasting a time of 22:48.4, followed closely by Abigail Stewart who swept across the line in 44th place with a time of 22:52.1.

Tessa Durnell earned 88th place on the day with her time of 23:34.6, while Grace Buessing clocked a 101st place finish at 23:48.3. Rounding out the day for the Tigers was Averi Wilson in 114th place at 24:02.4 and Rebeca Avelar with a 24:50.9 mark and 149th place finish.

For the second-straight year, the University of Mary took home the team title after finishing with 29 points three of the top five individual placers. Two MIAA programs locked in a top-five team finish as Pittsburg State took third place with 122 points and Southwest Baptist claimed fifth following a total of 176 team points.