FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A 14th-place finish by junior Joseph Simuchimba highlighted the LSU cross country team’s effort at the 19th annual Chile Pepper Festival on Saturday as the men placed 10th and the women were 22nd overall.
Ninth-ranked Arkansas won the men’s team title with 47 points. Texas Tech (83) captured the women’s crown.
The Tigers, running their first 10K race of the season, had a pair of runners finish in the top 50. Simuchimba led the pack for the fourth straight race finishing in 30:27.4, a time that was just a minute shy of the race’s winner.
Sophomore Jake Simmons crossed the finish line in 33rd, finishing in 31:20.9. Others scoring for the Tigers included Michael Hendry (94th, 32:42.9), Alan Sticker (96th, 32:44.1) and Michael Florek (110th, 33:02.0).
For the women, senior Kate Accardo again led the squad. She placed 93rd overall after finishing the 6K course in 22:58.5. Others who finished in scoring positions were Erin Vandivort (136th, 23:37.9), Christina Porter (147th, 23:43.8), Lindsay Day (24:06.1) and Jennifer Radecker (24:19.1).
Up next, the Tigers and Lady Tigers will take next weekend off as they prepare for the SEC Championships that are slated for Oct. 27 in Lexington, Ky.
CHILE PEPPER RESULTS
Team (Top 10 and LSU only)
Men
1. Arkansas, 47
2. Abilene Christian, 74
3. Virginia Tech, 162
4. Rend Lake College, 166
5. Texas A&M, 202
6. Texas A&M ? Corpus Christi, 223
7. Auburn, 234
8. Texas Tech, 250
9. Richmond, 253
10. LSU, 310
Women
1. Texas Tech, 83
2. Arkansas, 87
3. Virginia Tech, 130
4. UC Irvine, 195
5. Oklahoma State, 200
6. Texas, 224
7. Texas A&M, 233
8. Richmond, 302
9. Utah, 317
10. James Madison, 337
22. LSU, 641
Individual (Winner plus all LSU runners)
Men
1, Shadrack Songok, Texas A&M ? Corpus Christi, 29:22.1. 14, Joseph Simuchimba, 30:27.4. 33, Jacob Simmons, 31:20.9. 94, Michael Hendry, 32:42.9. 96, Alan Sticker, 32:44.1. 110, Michael Florek, 33:02.0. 134, Richard Chautin, 33:44.1. 140, Ken Ehrhardt, 33:32.8. 182, Kyle Hecker, 34:54.9. 228, Harold Boutte, 36:54.7.
Women
1, Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, 29:22.1. 93, Kate Accardo, 22:58.5. 136, Erin Vandivort, 23:37.9. 147, Christina Porter, 23:43.8. 164, Lindsay Day, 24:06.1. 177, Jennifer Radecker, 24:19.1. 178, Katie Dawson, 24:22.9. 268, Kristi Denton, 26:37.9.