Tigers XC Eighth at Chile Pepper Festival

FAYETTEVILLE -- Against a talented field the LSU men\'s cross country team posted an eighth-place finish Saturday morning at the Chile Pepper Festival, while the women placed 17th overall at the Agri Park Cross Country Course.


\"I think both teams ran well,\" said LSU cross country coach Mark Elliott. \"On the men\'s side we were beat by ranked teams but we turned in a good performance. The women are a little inexperienced, but they are running up to their talent level and as it relates to the SEC teams I think we are doing well.\"


The men\'s team competition was won by top-ranked Arkansas who finished the race with just 57 points. No. 6 Arizona (93) and No. 11 UTEP (94) rounded out the top three. The Tigers ended the day with 288 points.


On the women\'s side it was once again the ranked competition claiming the top three spots as No. 16 Oklahoma State took home top honors (64), No. 12 Arkansas was second (71) and No. 14 Baylor finished in third (82).


Individually, LSU\'s top finisher was senior Patrick Gavin. The Folsom native led the Tiger squad for the second time this season, finishing the 10K course in 30:27.7 to place 38th overall. Other top finishers on the men\'s side included junior Drew Haro (59th, 31:07.4) and sophomore Michael Hendry (77th, 31:40.1).


On the women\'s side, senior Michelle Hymel led the Lady Tigers for the second straight week. Hymel finished 72nd overall with a time of 22:31.1 over the 6K course. Junior Jennifer Radecker and sophomore Rachael Graham followed with times of 23:11.4 and 23:13.0, respectively.


The Tigers and Lady Tigers will take next weekend off before returning to action, Oct. 29, at the SEC Championships in Columbia, S.C.



TEAM RESULTS (Top 10 plus LSU only)

Men
1. Arkansas, 57
2. Arizona, 93
3. UTEP, 94
4. Alabama, 98
5. California, 176
6. Abilene Christian, 222
7. Cornell, 259
8. LSU, 288
9. Wyoming, 320
10. Texas Tech, 323

Women
1. Oklahoma State, 64
2. Arkansas, 71
3. Baylor, 82
4. Wichita State, 178
5. Nebraska, 220
6. California, 279
7. Texas Tech, 301
8. Wyoming, 304
9. Georgia Tech, 313
10. Stephen F. Austin, 339
17. LSU, 493



INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winner plus all LSU competitors)
Men
1, Josphat Bolt, Arkansas, 28:27.6. 38, Patrick Gavin, 30:27.7. 59, Drew Haro, 31:07.4. 77, Michael Hendry, 31:40.1. 83, Jacon Simmons, 31:45.2. 92, Roland LeBlanc, 31:57.3. 114, Matthew Guy, 32:15.6. 115, James Presley, 32:17.0. 120, Sam Mwape, 32:26.4. 140, Jacen Lanclos, 32:43.2.


Women
1, Miriam Kaumba, Unattached, 19:36.5. 72, Michelle Hymel, 22;31.1. 110, Jennifer Radecker, 23:11.4. 113, Rachael Graham, 23:13.0. 127, Megan Broussard, 23:21.3. 140, Katie Dawson, 23:37.2. 142, Jennifer Stark, 23:37.7. 151, Lindsay Day, 23:46.7. 152, Christy Zirkle, 23:46.7. 160, Katherine Accardo, 23;50.8.