The Fort Hays State cross country team hosts the Sixth Annual FHSU Tiger Open this Saturday (Oct. 7) at the Sand Plum Nature Trail in Victoria, Kan. The race is one of the largest cross country races in the Midwest, with 820 athletes representing 41 schools set to participate in this year's event. Festivities will begin at 9:05 a.m., with the first race beginning at 9:15 a.m. A full schedule of events can be found below.

Parking will not be available at the course, fans and teams will need to park on a paved side street in the town of Victoria.
 
Several nationally ranked teams will descend upon Ellis County this weekend, with three men's teams and three women's teams currently ranked in the top 25 in Division II scheduled to attend. No. 1 Adams State, No. 18 Western State and No. 21 Rogers State will compete in the men's race while No. 2 Adams State, No. 3 Western State and No. 7 Pittsburg State will run on the women's side. Seven MIAA schools will be in attendance, including FHSU, Central Missouri, Emporia State (men only), Missouri Western, Nebraska-Kearney, Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State.
 
This year's field is the largest in the history of the event, exceeding last year's total entries by 85 runners. This is the fourth time the event has been split into two divisions, the Black Race and the Gold Race (NCAA Division II).
 
Sand Plum Nature Trail is one of the finest cross country courses in the Midwest, located 10 miles east of Hays. The course is a private trail designed specifically to host cross country events. The course traverses through North Fork Creek and provides beautiful views of the Cathedral of the Plains in the background.
 
The women will tackle the five-kilometer course at Sand Plum Nature Trail, while both men's races will be eight kilometers in distance.
 
Adams State won both team titles last season, giving the Grizzlies six team titles in the five-year history of the event (three men, three women).
 
Chelsea Jackson has been the top runner for the FHSU women's team at all three events so far this season, turning in a personal-best time of 18:09.8 at the Southern Stampede. Lindsay Roberts and Lauren Roberts have consistently been in the top three for the Tigers, with Yessenia Gonzales also scoring for the Tigers at all three meets this season.
 
Freshman Robbie Schmidt and junior Layton Werth have been the top two finishers for the men's team at all three races this year, including finishing second and third, respectively, to open the year at the Terry Masterson Classic. Werth recorded FHSU's top 8k time this season of 25:34.46 at the Southern Stampede, placing 27th overall. Reed Rome and Brett Meyer have also scored for the Tigers at each event this year.
 
Updated 2017 FHSU Tiger Open Schedule
9:05 a.m. - National Anthem
9:15 a.m. - Women's Black Race (5K)
9:50 a.m. - Men's Black Race (8K)
10:35 a.m. - Women's Gold Race (5K)
10:40 a.m. - Black Race Awards
11:15 a.m. - Men's Gold Race (8K)
12:00 p.m. - Gold Race Awards