WVU Takes Third at Chile Pepper Festival
October 05, 2019 02:40 PM | Cross Country
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University cross country team notched a third-place finish at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday.
Redshirt senior Candace Archer paced the Mountaineers in 15th place with a 5k time of 17:02.3 at the University of Arkansas' Agri Park. Freshman Ceili McCabe followed Archer, crossing the finish line in 21st with a time of 17:14.3. In her season debut, sophomore Charlotte Wood finished in 24th in 17:19.5.
Redshirt senior Olivia Hill and junior Hayley Jackson also finished in the top 30 to round out WVU's team scoring. The duo took 29th (17:23.6) and 30th (17:27), respectively.
"There were certainly some positive performances out there today," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "Collectively, I feel we earned a grade of a B as a team. Any time you race rival schools and bring a B effort, you stand the chance of coming home slightly disappointed. Now, we know exactly where we have to improve, and I believe we will do so over the next six weeks.
"Candace ran a brilliant race in leading this group today. She knows she will only get better as the season progresses, and she wants more of the team to be near the front of the pack with her as we continue racing in the final part of the season."
In the team's first-ever trip to the home of the Razorbacks, the Mountaineers captured third place with 100 points for their second third-place finish of the season. Host school Arkansas took first with 24 points, while Big 12-foe Texas took second (90). Oklahoma State (129) and Tulsa (143) rounded out the top five.
Saturday's field featured 270 runners from 27 different schools. Four other Big 12 teams, including Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas, also raced at the Chile Pepper Festival.
Additionally, six other Mountaineers also competed for West Virginia. Junior Bree Warren placed 35th in 17:31, just ahead of redshirt freshman Katherine Dowie in 36th (17:32.1). Redshirt sophomore Marianne Abdalah finished in 51st with a time of 17:45.6.
Redshirt junior Sarah Wills also made her season debut on Saturday, as she took 71st place with a time of 18:01. Two other Mountaineers finished inside the top 100, as redshirt freshmen Mikenna Vanderheyden and Samantha Hatcher crossed the line in 98th (18:22.9) and 100th (18:23.8), respectively.
Saturday marked the 31st-annual running of the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival, and it was the first time WVU has competed in the event.
After a week off, the Mountaineers will split for two different meets on Friday, Oct. 18. Part of the team is set to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, for the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, as WVU competes at the University of Wisconsin's home course for the first time in program history. The women's 6k race is scheduled to begin at 1:20 p.m. ET on the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course.
The other half of WVU's squad will return to University Park, Pennsylvania, for the second time this year to race in the Penn State National Open for the fifth-straight season. The women's 6k is tabbed for 10:45 a.m. ET on Penn State's Blue-White Course.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Redshirt senior Candace Archer paced the Mountaineers in 15th place with a 5k time of 17:02.3 at the University of Arkansas' Agri Park. Freshman Ceili McCabe followed Archer, crossing the finish line in 21st with a time of 17:14.3. In her season debut, sophomore Charlotte Wood finished in 24th in 17:19.5.
Redshirt senior Olivia Hill and junior Hayley Jackson also finished in the top 30 to round out WVU's team scoring. The duo took 29th (17:23.6) and 30th (17:27), respectively.
"There were certainly some positive performances out there today," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "Collectively, I feel we earned a grade of a B as a team. Any time you race rival schools and bring a B effort, you stand the chance of coming home slightly disappointed. Now, we know exactly where we have to improve, and I believe we will do so over the next six weeks.
"Candace ran a brilliant race in leading this group today. She knows she will only get better as the season progresses, and she wants more of the team to be near the front of the pack with her as we continue racing in the final part of the season."
In the team's first-ever trip to the home of the Razorbacks, the Mountaineers captured third place with 100 points for their second third-place finish of the season. Host school Arkansas took first with 24 points, while Big 12-foe Texas took second (90). Oklahoma State (129) and Tulsa (143) rounded out the top five.
Saturday's field featured 270 runners from 27 different schools. Four other Big 12 teams, including Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas, also raced at the Chile Pepper Festival.
Additionally, six other Mountaineers also competed for West Virginia. Junior Bree Warren placed 35th in 17:31, just ahead of redshirt freshman Katherine Dowie in 36th (17:32.1). Redshirt sophomore Marianne Abdalah finished in 51st with a time of 17:45.6.
Redshirt junior Sarah Wills also made her season debut on Saturday, as she took 71st place with a time of 18:01. Two other Mountaineers finished inside the top 100, as redshirt freshmen Mikenna Vanderheyden and Samantha Hatcher crossed the line in 98th (18:22.9) and 100th (18:23.8), respectively.
Saturday marked the 31st-annual running of the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival, and it was the first time WVU has competed in the event.
After a week off, the Mountaineers will split for two different meets on Friday, Oct. 18. Part of the team is set to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, for the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, as WVU competes at the University of Wisconsin's home course for the first time in program history. The women's 6k race is scheduled to begin at 1:20 p.m. ET on the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course.
The other half of WVU's squad will return to University Park, Pennsylvania, for the second time this year to race in the Penn State National Open for the fifth-straight season. The women's 6k is tabbed for 10:45 a.m. ET on Penn State's Blue-White Course.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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