Change of Plans, XC Headed to Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Pivoting after a flight cancellation, the Baylor men's and women's cross country teams will run in the 38^th annual Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival on Saturday at the Arkansas Razorbacks' famed Agri Park.

Initially, the Bears were scheduled to compete in the Nike XC Town Twilight in Terre Haute, Ind., the site of next month's NCAA Championship. But with the late switch, they will go against a strong regional field in Fayetteville that includes Arkansas, Texas, North Texas, UTA, Tulsa and Mississippi State.

The men's McDonnell Memorial 8K starts at 10:25 a.m., followed by the women's Harter's Habanero 5K at 11 a.m.

Running a full team on the men's side for just the second time this season, the Bears will have senior Straton Miller, juniors Jack Sterrett and Caden Biltz and freshmen Caleb Larsen and Matthew King. While Sterrett had a 10^th-place finish at the Aggie Opener, the two freshmen were Baylor's lead runners at the Texas A&M Invitational, King placing 36^th with an 8K time of 25:35.8.

Making her debut in a Baylor uniform, senior transfer Khadijah Ennasri from Eastern Kentucky will be joined by senior Mackenize Browne, juniors Ruth Kimeli and Ella Perry and sophomores Rachel Haws, Eva Jacobsen and Rickeisha Simms.

Last time out, Kimeli made her season debut and finished ninth with a career-best 5K time of 16:18.8, helping the BU women to a 12^th-place finish out of 31 teams two weeks ago at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala.

Closing out the regular season, the Baylor men and women will return to College Station for the Arturo Barrios Invitational on Oct. 16 before a Halloween showdown for the Big 12 Championship on Oct. 31 in Stillwater, Okla.

Live results for Friday's meet will be available at Chile Pepper Festival.

For the latest news on the Baylor cross country team all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.

Change of Plans, XC Headed to Arkansas

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Players Mentioned

Caden Biltz

Mackenize Browne

Khadijah Ennasri

Rachel Haws

Ruth Kimeli

Matthew King

Caleb Larsen

Straton Miller

Ella Perry

Rickeisha Simms

Jack Sterrett

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