Women's Cross Country to Compete at Chile Pepper Festival
10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM
Oct. 16, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama women's cross country team will travel to Fayetteville, Ark. this weekend and compete against top ranked teams at the 20th Annual Chile Pepper Invitational on the University of Arkansas Cross Country Course.
While most of the top ranked teams in the country are headed to the Pre-NCAA Championships this weekend, Alabama will race against three of the nation's best squads in Fayetteville including host school No. 10 Arkansas. No. 23 Southern Methodist and No. 29 Texas Tech will also be in the field.
The Tide will be able to get an early glimpse of SEC west foes, LSU and Arkansas, in their race. That experience should help the young squad when the SEC Championships roll around in two weeks.
Alabama finished 21st at last year's meet being led by sophomore Haley Moody who finished in26th place.
The Crimson Tide is set to toe the line at 10:30 a.m.
Ranked Teams
Alabama will race against three top 30 ranked teams at the meet being hosted by The University of Arkansas. In the 39 team field, the squad will see ranked teams No. 10, No. 23 and No. 29.
Looking Ahead
The women's cross country team will take a week off before beginning the championship portion of the season. The squad will compete at the SEC Championships on Nov. 3 in Starkville, Miss. in hopes of finishing in the top six.
Quotes from cross country coach Randy Hasenbank:
On the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival:
"The best part about the meet is that we will get to compete against a couple of SEC teams there and it will be good to get to see them before the SEC Championships."
On the race being the first 6k for many of the athletes on the team:
"It's our first 6k of the season and we need to see how we compete at that distance. I know the girls are excited and ready to see what they can cover that distance in."
On the variety of teams in the field:
"We get to see some regional foes including some out of region teams that we don't normally see which will be good for the team. It's a nice variety of about 40 squads."
