No. 2 Arkansas Takes Team Title at OSU Cowboy Jamboree

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 2 Arkansas cross country took the team title with 40 points at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. on Saturday. Division II powerhouse Abilene Christian came in second with 64 points. The win is also the Razorbacks’ third-consecutive team title victory at the Jamboree.

“It was a much better day for us,” head coach John McDonnell said. “This is our best day this year. I really believe our team is coming together and from top to bottom, I thought they ran very well. When we get Chris Barnicle and Shawn Forrest back in the lineup; it’s looking a lot better.”

Peter Kosgei was the top harrier for the Hogs with a third-place finish and a time of 24:13. The Razorbacks had four runners finish in the top 10 among the collegiate competition.

“The race was really good,” Kosgei said. “Everybody on the team did very well, that is the most important thing. My teammates were right behind me and I was really impressed with the team effort.”

Seth Summerside was the second Hog to cross the finish line and was sixth place overall among the collegiate competitors with his time of 24:38. Third to score was Scott MacPherson in seventh place with a time of 24:42. Kenny Cormier was fourth on the team and 10th among the collegians with a clocking of 24:56. Making his 2006 cross country debut, Adam Perkins crossed the line with a time of 25:07, good for a 14th-place finish and the final UA scorer.

Jonathan Norris finished 17th with a time of 25:14. Tyler Hill was 19th and clocked a 25:32. Also making his 2006 cross debut was Colin Costello who crossed the line in 26:08 and finished 34th. Rio Reina clocked a 26:45 and finished 65th.

With the conference meet in four weeks, McDonnell is happy with the way his team competed against some of the best Division I and II schools and will use the upcoming Chile Pepper Festival to get his team accustomed to the competition the Razorbacks will face at the SEC and NCAA Championships.

“Abilene Christian was a good team for us to go up against because they have four really good runners,” McDonnell said. “We faired pretty well against man-to-man. I was pleased with the way that everybody competed.”

Next up for the Razorbacks will be the Chile Pepper Festival (10K) in Fayetteville, Ark., Sat., Oct. 14.