Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Finish as Top NJCAA Teams at Chile Pepper
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Butler men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the 2024 Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival hosted by the University of Arkansas at Agri Park on Saturday afternoon.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Butler men's and women's cross country teams competed at the 2024 Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival hosted by the University of Arkansas at Agri Park on Saturday afternoon.
Both squads turned in top team performances among NJCAA teams at the event with the men finishing seventh out of 25 teams in the McDonnell Memorial 8k, ahead of the likes of Hutchinson, LSU, Tarleton State and Jacksonville State. The Grizzly women placed second out of 23 teams, just behind Saint Mary (NE) who finished first.
For the third time this season, Emmanuel Otim and Elizabeth Hernandez were Butler's top finishers. Both runners finished with personal bests with Otim running 24:00.9 in the 8k and Hernandez running 17:45.8 in the 5k. Both were also the top NJCAA finishers in their respective events.
On the men's side, Itumeleng Ngxabazi was the next highest finisher in 34th (24:55.6), Sfiso Makolomakwa came in 37th (24:56.4), Bhekizulu Khumalo came in 61st running a personal record (25:16.4) and Ishmael Acheampong finished 75th (25:32.1) to round out the top five for Butler.
On the women's side, Zothile Jesica Mbhamali finished eighth (18:43.7), Alison Unruh came in ninth (18:57.6), Valyrie Freeman finished 44th (21:07.7) and Alexa Marshall finished 49th to close out Butler's top five finishers.
The Grizzlies return to action on Friday, October 25th, at Cowley's Tiger Preview in Winfield.