Top Five Hogs Finish Together as Arkansas Cross Country Opens the 2006 Season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorback cross country opened the 2006 season with the Arkansas Invitational, a four-mile race at Agri Park, in Fayetteville, on Friday. The Hogs recorded a perfect team score of 15 points as five lettermen crossed the finish line in a time of 20:12. All-American Peter Kosgei finished in the top spot.

“It was a good race,” Kosgei, back competing after redshirting the 2006 outdoor season, said. “The first mile was good. We went about 4:36. Then we started slowing down. I’m glad to be back in shape and running with my teammates. This was a small race. Next weekend (at the Missouri Southern Invitational) will be a better indication of where I am and where we are as a team.”

Missouri Southern, also running Friday night, finished behind the Hogs with 45 points.

Kosgei, Seth Summerside, Scott MacPherson, Shawn Forrest and All-American Kenny Cormier crossed the finish line in 20:12. MacPherson and Dan LaCava, who finished sixth with a time of 20:36, made their Razorback cross country debuts on Friday. Rio Reina, also making his Razorback debut, finished 13th with a time of 22:53 in the four-mile race.

Back from his vacation in Ireland in time for Friday’s meet, head coach John McDonnell passed coaching duties for the season opener to his volunteer assistant coach and former Razorback All-American Alistair Cragg.

“They ran well,” Cragg said. “They looked like they ran controlled. It seems like they are in good shape for this early in the season. It was nice to see them run this race together and to have that many guys finishing up front.”

Next up for the Hogs will be the Missouri Southern Invitational, Sat., Sept. 16, in Joplin, Mo. The race will go off at 9:45 a.m.

Download: D__Results-F2.pdf