FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (10/1/16) – The Arkansas State cross country women took 14th and the men placed 15th on Saturday at the Chile Pepper Festival.
Freshman Elizabeth Gillette led the women with a time of 18:25.13 to place 55th overall. Freshman Sammy Brainard clocked a time of 18:40.56 to place 67th with sophomore Andrea Perez (18:45.96) and freshman Anaelle Charles (18:46.68) finishing 74th and 75th, respectively.
"While Elizabeth Gillette was the No.1 runner with a time that places her 10th on the A-State all time list on this course, the next 3 runners - Sammy Brainard, Andrea Perez, and Anaelle Charles - were not too far behind," said A-State cross country coach Kyle Chandler. "Along with Jessica Weiss and Erin Nunan at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions the women's team did a nice job of really working together and it showed in their improved team placing."
Junior Rickus Jacobs paced the men's side as he finished the course in 25:25.63 to place 46th overall. Freshman Heinrich Herbst narrowly missed the top-50 as he finished 54th with a time of 25:31.88.
"We had our third No. 1 runner of the season in as many races this season as Rickus Jacobs did a nice job leading the team," Chandler said. "He, along with Heinrich Herbst, worked well throughout the race to finish within a few seconds of one another. While Rickus was the top finisher, Heinrich moved on to the top 10 list on this course at the No. 3 position and is really showing some great running as a freshman."
The Red Wolves return to action on Saturday, Oct. 15 with split squad action at the Little Rock Invitational and the Pre-National Meet in Terre Haute, Ind.