Cross Country to Compete at the Chili Pepper Invite
10/11/2006 12:00:00 AM
Tuscaloosa, AL?? The University of Alabama cross teams will compete at the Chili Pepper Invitational this weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The men are set to take off at 9:45 a.m. Saturday and the women’s team will start at 10:30 a.m. This is the last race for both teams before the Southeastern Conference championships in two weeks.
“We are really trying to establish ourselves this weekend and gain some momentum heading into the SEC Championships in two weeks” men’s cross country coach Joe Walker said. “This well be a good opportunity for us to compete against some highly ranked teams, with Arkansas No. 2 and UTEP No. 11”
The men will challenge what should be a fast 10k course in Fayetteville. No. 17 Alabama won the first two races of the year and finished fourth the last time out at the Bill Dillinger Invitational in Eugene, Ore. Freshman sensation Emmanuel Bor looks to win his third race this season, after winning the Crimson Classic and the UTC Invitational to start the season.
For the first time this year the women will run a 6k race, their three previous races have been 5k’s.
“We are facing very stiff completion with Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Baylor all ranked in the top 20” women’s cross county coach Randy Hasenbank said. “For some of our younger runners this will be their first ever 6k, but it should help us solidify the group we will take to the SEC Championships in two weeks.”
Senior Julia Hicks has lead the Tide all year. She won the first two races of the season for the Crimson Tide and finished third in the last race at Loyola Lakefront in Chicago.
Both teams will be off next weekend and return to action in the SEC Championships on October 28th in Baton Rouge, LA.
