Razorbacks race over 5k in Missouri Southern Stampede

JOPLIN, Mo. – A portion of the Razorback women’s cross country team will compete over a 5,000m distance on the Tom Rutledge course Saturday morning at the Missouri Southern Stampede.

Scheduled to race at 8:30 a.m. amid a mix of Division I and II schools, Arkansas will have a crew of seven competing. Live results will be available at this link: http://www.milesplit.live/meets/494542.

“Development is the keynote for our program this year,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “The younger members of our team, and the ones who missed track season last spring, we’re trying to give them some competition opportunities to really get ready for the task at hand, which is coming soon.

“We want to get as much confidence as we possibly can and get back into that racing groove to get ready for the SEC meet, regionals and nationals.”

The Arkansas squad racing this weekend includes Mary Ellen Eudaly, Nyah Hernandez, Gracie Hyde, Katie McCune, Heidi Nielson, Mackenzie Rogers, and Adoette Vaughan.

Last season Hyde led the Razorbacks to a team victory over a field of 26 teams and finished third overall.

After opening the season at the beginning of September with a 3,000m race at Oklahoma State, Arkansas will move up to a 5,000m distance this weekend.

“The course has hosted many national championships on the Division II level,” noted Harter. “It’s a great course and challenging in some respects. It’s a fair course and fan friendly.

“We’ll go there and step up from the 3k to the 5k distance. For some of the young people on the team it works out really well to step up our way ultimately to the 6k national distance.”

Teams joining Arkansas and host Missouri Southern in the meet include Cal State East Bay, Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma, Drury, East Central, Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Midwestern State, Missouri Western, New Mexico Highlands, Newman, Northwestern Oklahoma, Oklahoma Baptist, Oral Roberts, Ouachita Baptist, Pittsburg State, Rockhurst, Rogers State, Southern Arkansas, Southwest Baptist, SW Oklahoma, St. Mary, and Washburn.

Among region rankings in Division II, Pittsburg State is No. 5 in the Central Region with Central Missouri at No. 6 with Rogers State No. 8. In the Midwest Region, Southwest Baptist and Drury are ranked eighth and ninth, while Cal State East Bay is No. 8 in the West Region.

“Our mainstays and veterans who have a lot of confidence and had great track seasons will continue to train and open up next week or at Chile Pepper,” said Harter.

The Razorbacks are scheduled to compete in the Oklahoma State Jamboree on Sept. 24, and race on its home course, Agri Park, in the Chile Pepper Festival held on Sept. 30.