`Cats Set to Run at Chile Pepper Invite
Oct 17, 2002 | Track & Field
Oct. 17, 2002
MANHATTAN, Kan.- The Kansas State men's and women's cross country teams will run in the Chile Pepper Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19. The men will run the first race at 9:30 a.m., followed by the women at 10:30 a.m. at the Agri Park Cross Country Course in Fayetteville, Ark.
The invitational will offer a large field of over 25 teams for both the men and women. At the top of the list are the Arkansas men, second in the nation according to the current MONDO men's cross country poll, and the Arkansas women, who are ranked 10th.
From the Coach
"This is a good field of teams, but there are also, a lot of good individuals from some of the smaller schools," said head cross country coach Randy Cole.
First Time
On the men's side this will be the first 10,000-meter race of the season for Kansas State. That means for three Wildcat freshmen it will be there first collegiate race at the NCAA men's distance.
Wildcat Chile Pepper History
Kansas State makes their second appearance in two years at the Fayetteville, Ark. event. Last season the men finished 17th in the 28-team field and the women finished 5th out of 27 teams.
Individually, for the 'Cats, four women (A. Mortimer-1st, Culbertson-25th, Burrell-95th, Carlton-145th) and two men (George-99th, Boos-140th) raced last year and will make their second trip to the Chile Pepper.
Dominant Host
Last year's host team, Arkansas won both the team titles with four top 11 finishers on the men's side and three top 25 finishers on the women's.
Looking to Repeat
Kansas State senior Amy Mortimer is the defending champion on the women's side, to repeat she will have to beat another past champion of the event. Lilli Kleinmann, a senior at Arkansas, was the invite's champion in 2000.
Last Time Out
The Wildcats ran in the Roy Griak Minnesota Invitational in St. Paul, Minn. The Wildcat women ran well, finishing in a tie with Miami-Ohio for ninth overall. Individually, senior Amy Mortimer finished in third place while her sister, Erin finished in 28th place overall. All five of K-State's runners finished in the top 100 in the team scoring.
The men also ran at the Griak event, not fairing as well as a team, 22nd overall, but having some nice individual finishes. Sophomore standout, Mathew Chesang, finished sixth overall, followed by K-State newcomer Drew Tonniges in 71st-place.
Racing Line-ups
Men: Martin Boos-Sr., Mathew Chesang-So., Derek George-Sr., Jordan Lacore-Fr., Keil Regehr-Sr., Matt Swedlund-Fr., Drew Tonniges-Fr.
Women: Monica Anderson-Fr., Shauna Burrell-So., Kelly Carlton-Jr., Trisha Culbertson-So., Amy Mortimer-Sr., Erin Mortimer-Fr.
On Deck for the 'Cats
Following the Chili Pepper Invite Kansas State will compete at the Big 12 Championships on Nov. 2. The University of Missouri will host the event at A.L. Gustin Jr. Golf Course in Columbia, Mo. The women's 6k begins at 10 a.m., while the men's 8k follows at 11 a.m.
-ksu-
