WT RESULTS
MEET RESULTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 13 West Texas A&M men's cross country finished third in the college division and fifth overall  at the 27^th Annual Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark Saturday morning. The Buffs placed two runners in the top 50 in rout to earning 133 points. No. 4 Colorado School of Mines won the college division with 44 points while Pittsburg State took second with 125. Andrew Ronoh of Iowa Central Community College was the top finisher in the college division.
 
"Our team average was much better than it was last," head coach Darren Flowers said. "We had seven under 26 minutes which is something that we have never done on this course. I was a little nervous the first part of the race because we were so far back. But the guys ran will in a group during those last 4k to move up."
 
Geoffrey Kipchumba was the top runner for the Buffs placing 16^th overall and finishing the 8,000 meter course in 24:09.54. Transfers Blake Whalen and Tyson Wieland continued their good form placing 36^th (24:39.79) and 63^rd (25:10.49) respectively. Zach Daniel placed 117^th place (25:45.11) in his first race of the season followed by Jamie Taylor-Caldwell in 131^st place (25:51.07). Darin Allen was the sixth runner for the Buffs placing 139^th (25:55.48) followed closely by Matthew Schleder in 143^rd place (25:27.08).
 
Reid Splawn (192^nd, 26:25.77) finished eighth for the Buffs followed by Jacob Suchors (257^th, 27:02.48), Derek Wieck (265^th, 27:06.78) and Miguel Mendez (303^rd, 27:31.73).
 
"We are going to regroup and keep training," said Flowers. "I know that we can get better and we will need to get better if we are hoping to accomplish our goals. When championship time comes, we will need to be ready as Tarleton State and a few other teams looked really good today."
 
The Buffs return to action next Saturday, Oct. 10 in the Fort Hays Tiger Open in Victoria, Kan. That will be the final tune-up before the Lone Star Conference Championship on Oct. 26 in Stephenville, Texas.