No. 12 Arkansas to Face Early Season Road Battles
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas women’s cross country team will look to continue their strong start to the season as it competes in both the Riverside Invitational in Riverside, California, and the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri this Saturday.
Following its second place finish at the Cowboy Preview, the Razorbacks rank No. 1 in the South Central region and maintain its No. 12 national ranking, in the latest USTFCCCA poll.
“I think our tradition, our legacy, continues,” head coach Lance Harter said. “I think this team might rewrite history for the Razorbacks. They’re a very special group and our peers have recognized that.”
Riverside Invitational
Arkansas will have some of its top runners at the Riverside Invitational 6k Saturday, headlined by 2016 South Central Region Champion Devin Clark and All-American Taylor Werner. Clark and Werner will be joined by all-region performer Carina Viljoen, All-SEC seniors Nikki Hiltz and Therese Haiss as well as freshmen Lauren Gregory and Ashton Endlsey.
Viljoen and Hiltz return to Riverside after competing in the 6k event last season, each placing in the top-8 as the Razorbacks finished in the top spot. Werner and Haiss move from the 5k to the 6k, after taking first and second place in the 5k last season.
Payton Brown, Micah Huckabee, and Alex Ritchey will lead Arkansas’ 5k group in Riverside, after placing in the top-12 at the Cowboy Preview.
The Razorbacks will have their first opportunity against Southeastern Conference competition this weekend, as Alabama will compete in the Invitational for the first time Saturday. The Crimson Tide are ranked third in the South Region.
Missouri Southern Stampede
Katie Adams, Emily Jeacock, and Kristen Larkan will lead another group of Razorbacks at the Missouri Southern Stampede. The trio returns to Joplin, Missouri for the second consecutive year after finishing in the top-8 at the race in 2016. Larkan will be competing in her first race as a freshman.
2017 Cross Country Schedule
Fri, Sept. 1 – Cowboy Duals (Stillwater, Okla.) 2nd of 4
Sat, Sept. 16 – Riverside Invitational (Riverside, Calif.)
Sat, Sept. 16 – Southern Stampede (Joplin, Mo.)
Sat, Sept. 30 – Chile Pepper Festival (Agri Park)
Sat, Sept. 30 – Notre Dame Invitational (South Bend, Ind.)
Sat, Oct. 14 – Pre-Nationals (Louisville, Ky.)
Fri, Oct. 27 – SEC Championship (Athens, Ga.)
Fri, Nov. 10 – NCAA South Central Regional (College Station, Texas)
Sat, Nov. 18 – NCAA Championship (Louisville, Ky.)
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
