Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney cross country teams placed seventh (women) and 10th (men) at the annual Chile Pepper Festival Saturday morning in Fayetteville, Ark.

The meet included junior high and high school races as well as a secondary college division.

The 20th-ranked Loper women were the top non-Division I squad in the 29-team field, tallying 258 points. UNK came in ahead of 10 D1 teams as well as league rivals NW Missouri and 18th-ranked Missouri Southern. Texas (54) and the host Hogs (106) were 1-2 with the Lopers three points ahead of regionally-ranked Mississippi College.

In the men's 8k race, the Blue & Gold scored 291 points to finish 10th out of 30 teams. The Lopers beat seven D1 programs and 28th-ranked Missouri Southern. The Hogs (40) and Longhorns (56) were 1-2 with 9th-ranked NW Missouri third (103) and 31st-ranked East Central, Okla. (254) seventh.

Omaha senior Nick Abdalla paced the men by finishing 14th overall (24:17.8). There were 285 finishers with Abdalla ranking fourth among non-D1 runners and Timothy Chesondin from Arkansas winning (22:53.6). UNK's other scorers were separated by just 16 seconds; Lincoln sophomore Carter Hohlen (59th/25:14.3), Grand Island junior Juan Garcia (65th/25:20.6), Kansas freshman Drew Elliott (73rd/25:26.8) and South Sioux City sophomore Mesuidi Ejerso (80th/25:30.9).

McCool Junction sophomore Kassidy Stuckey (33rd/17:30.8) and Central City senior Ella Buhlke (35th/17:33.0) led the women's cause. Sydney Thorvaldson of Arkansas led the field of 269 in a time of 16:03.0. Finally, UNK's other scorers were separated by only 20 seconds; Kearney freshman Abigail Burger (56th/17:58.5), York junior Brynn Hirschfeld (61st/18:06.0) and Kansas freshman Lily Brewer (73rd/18:18.7). 

The MIAA Championships are set for Oct. 25 at Pittsburg State.