The Texas State men and women’s cross country teams traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas over the weekend to compete in the 31^stannual Chili Pepper Festival over the weekend. Out of 593 collegiate participants, the women placed 18^thand the men finished in 20^th.
 
Both the men and women had three runners finish in the top 100. The women competed against 27 teams, averaging a time of 18:46.26 with 501 points in the 5k race. The men averaged 25:48.84 in the 8k with 565 points with a field of 32 teams.
 
Junior Tina Sierra led the pack, finishing 73^rdwith a time of 18:18.4. Junior Sydney Cole finished with a time 18:23.9 to place in 81^stwhile freshman Riley McGarth was close behind in 84^thwith a final time of 18:28.3. Completing the scorers for the ‘Cats were senior Abby Steinhauser in 101^stwith a final time of 18:41.3 and senior Sarah Godfrey crossing the finish with a time of 19:59.4 in 162^nd.
 
 
Junior Justin Botello led the men for the second meet in a row with a 25:09.5 time to come in at 57^th. Senior Johen Deleon finished in 63^rdwith a time of 25:14.1, junior Cade Michael jumped 56 spots from his one-mile mark to place 98^thwith a time of 25:38.5, sophomore Chase Bracher placed 169^thwith a 26:28.0 time and junior Owen McGlothlin finished in 179^thwith a 26:34.2 time to finish out the Bobcats’ top five.
 
 
The ‘Cats will compete at the Arturo Barrios Invitational hosted by Texas A&M in College Station, Texas on Oct. 19 for the Bobcats’ final meet before heading to Hampton, Georgia for the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championships.