FHSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State University finished sixth in the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup race for 2017 as the final standings released on Wednesday (May 31). The Tigers had the lead in the race for the cup following the fall sports season and slipped to third by the end of the winter, but unfortunately, could not keep pace with the front runners in the spring.
The MIAA Commissioner’s Cup standings are based on points earned for regular season finishes in the 20 championship sports of the MIAA. The points awarded for each sport are based on the number of the MIAA institutions that participate in that sport. Each institution’s points are totaled and divided by the number of MIAA sports it sponsors, giving an overall finish for the school.
Central Missouri just slipped by Pittsburg State in the final standings with an average of 10.941. Pittsburg State held the lead following the winter season with a two-tenths of a point advantage over Central Missouri but finished with an average of 10.875. Central Missouri won the Cup by less than a tenth of a point.
Central Oklahoma, fourth after the winter release of the standings at 9.3 points, had a strong finish to finish third with an average of 10.143 points. Missouri Southern jumped from sixth to fourth, finishing with 8.929 points, while Northwest Missouri State also jumped two spots finishing fifth at 8.406 points.
Fort Hays State’s final average for the season was 7.778 points. FHSU had an average of 11.4 after a strong fall to lead the race early, then slipped to 9.9 by the end of the winter. Fifth-place finishes by the outdoor track and field squads (men and women) were the best of the spring season for FHSU.
An all-sports trophy returned to the MIAA this year for the first time since 2003, now called the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup with a new scoring system. The conference awarded the MIAA All-Sports Trophy from 1999 to 2003, with Central Missouri winning the honor all five years.
The final standings are listed below.
2017 MIAA Commissioner’s Cup
1. Central Missouri 10.941
2. Pittsburg State 10.875
3. Central Oklahoma 10.143
4. Missouri Southern 8.929
5. Northwest Missouri 8.406
6. Fort Hays State 7.778
7. Emporia State 7.547
8. Missouri Western 7.470
9. Northeastern State 7.150
10. Lindenwood 7.011
11. Nebraska-Kearney 6.778
12. Southwest Baptist 6.470
13. Washburn 6.281
14. Lincoln 5.818