Saturday, October 1
Fayetteville, AR
All Day
Samford University
at
Chile Pepper Festival
Photo by: Tim Cowie
Cross-Country Set For Chile Pepper Invitational
9.29.16 | Cross Country
After a three-week break from racing, the Samford men's and women's cross-country teams are primed to make a return to the course.
On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Bulldogs will compete at the prestigious Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. Hosted by the University of Arkansas, the meet annually attracts top teams from around the nation.
"This is a big race, and I want them to do well," Samford cross-country coach Pat McGregor said of his teams. "I want them to work together and just compete against high-caliber teams, just feel the rhythm."
The Bulldogs last raced on Sept. 9 at the Powerade Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn. Team newcomers Dillon Dean and Anna Long paced the Samford men and women at the meet. Dean, a freshman, posted a 31st-place finish in the men's 5K race with a time of 16 minutes, 31.62 seconds. Long, a junior transfer from Arizona State University, posted an 11th-place finish in the women's 2-mile race with a time of 11:50.18.
This weekend, both squads will move up in distance.
The Samford men will run their season-opening 8K, while the women will run their season-opening 5K.
"They're in great shape, but just because they're in great shape doesn't mean it won't be hard," McGregor said.
A contingent of veteran Bulldogs will make their season debuts in Fayetteville. On the men's side, junior Arséne Guillorel, redshirt senior Brandon Hazouri and sophomore Ben Bryant are all slated to toe the line for the first time.
Last fall, Guillorel took top individual honors at the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships and qualified for the NCAA Division I national meet. Both achievements represented program firsts.
On the women's side, juniors Karisa Nelson and Emma Garner will make their 2016 cross-country debuts. The duo earned All-SoCon Second Team recognition in 2015.
McGregor said the meet will also give a number of his younger runners an opportunity to showcase their racing prowess on an elite stage.
Dean, along with fellow freshman Jonathan Helton, will make the westward trek for the Samford men. Freshmen Shian Mallory, Mary Grace Strozier, Presley Weems and Sarah Fairchild will suit up for the Samford women.
"I don't want them to take it for granted," McGregor said. "These opportunities are few and far between."
Saturday's races at Fayetteville's Agri Park will take off at 9:45 a.m. (8K) and 10:20 a.m. (5K).
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On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Bulldogs will compete at the prestigious Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. Hosted by the University of Arkansas, the meet annually attracts top teams from around the nation.
"This is a big race, and I want them to do well," Samford cross-country coach Pat McGregor said of his teams. "I want them to work together and just compete against high-caliber teams, just feel the rhythm."
The Bulldogs last raced on Sept. 9 at the Powerade Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn. Team newcomers Dillon Dean and Anna Long paced the Samford men and women at the meet. Dean, a freshman, posted a 31st-place finish in the men's 5K race with a time of 16 minutes, 31.62 seconds. Long, a junior transfer from Arizona State University, posted an 11th-place finish in the women's 2-mile race with a time of 11:50.18.
This weekend, both squads will move up in distance.
The Samford men will run their season-opening 8K, while the women will run their season-opening 5K.
"They're in great shape, but just because they're in great shape doesn't mean it won't be hard," McGregor said.
A contingent of veteran Bulldogs will make their season debuts in Fayetteville. On the men's side, junior Arséne Guillorel, redshirt senior Brandon Hazouri and sophomore Ben Bryant are all slated to toe the line for the first time.
Last fall, Guillorel took top individual honors at the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships and qualified for the NCAA Division I national meet. Both achievements represented program firsts.
On the women's side, juniors Karisa Nelson and Emma Garner will make their 2016 cross-country debuts. The duo earned All-SoCon Second Team recognition in 2015.
McGregor said the meet will also give a number of his younger runners an opportunity to showcase their racing prowess on an elite stage.
Dean, along with fellow freshman Jonathan Helton, will make the westward trek for the Samford men. Freshmen Shian Mallory, Mary Grace Strozier, Presley Weems and Sarah Fairchild will suit up for the Samford women.
"I don't want them to take it for granted," McGregor said. "These opportunities are few and far between."
Saturday's races at Fayetteville's Agri Park will take off at 9:45 a.m. (8K) and 10:20 a.m. (5K).
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