By: John Kean, Sports Information Director
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Missouri S&T's women's cross country team finished among the middle of the pack among the NCAA Division II schools entered in the Chile Pepper Festival Saturday at the University of Arkansas, while the men's team produced a 19th place finish in a 50-team field Saturday – one that included a number of NCAA Division I schools.
The Lady Miners were headed by Samantha Schussele, who placed 251st in the women's race that featured 469 runners. Schussele recorded a time of 19:29.95, followed by
Lisa Lake (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa) who had a time of 19:37.75 and twin sister Mindy, who finished in 19:52.72.
Colleen Conrad (Mogadore, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary's ) finished right behind
Mindy Lake (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa) in 19:52.77 and
Lisa Barrett (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) was the Lady Miners' fifth finisher in 20:24.46.
S&T finished ahead of eight NCAA Division II schools in the field as it was 12th among the 20 schools from its classification in the race. Adams State was the top women's team from the Division II ranks as it came in fourth place overall.
The Miners' top finisher Saturday was David Huskisson, who finished in 83rd place in the 10-kilometer race in a time of 31:25.42. Eric Fairbairn placed 173rd in 32:37.12, while freshman Wynn McClellan ended up in 179th in 32:42.26. S&T's top five was rounded out by Aaron Viets, who had a time of 32:58.79 and Grant Brown, who posted a mark of 33:01.22. A total of 470 runners took part in the men's race.
Missouri S&T's men's team, currently ranked sixth in the Midwest region by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, placed fifth among the 19 NCAA Division II schools entered in the race. Division II power Adams State took fourth overall, while Augustana was 12th, Wayne State (Neb.) was 15th and East Central (Okla.) was 16th. The Miners finished one spot in front of Tulsa and six ahead of LSU.
