Werner Takes Chile Pepper Title, Breaks Course Record

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Placing four runners in the top-five, the No. 2 Razorback women’s cross country team dominated from start to finish on its home course at the Chile Pepper Festival posting a ridiculously low score of 24-points and winning by an impressive 66-points Saturday morning at Agri Park.

“I think our opposition across the United States are anxiously awaiting the results,” said head coach Lance Harter. “Now, when they see them they’re gonna say ‘the course is short’ or some other excuse, but we have an arsenal right now led by Taylor [Werner] and Katie [Izzo] and that duo running that fast is absolutely exceptional.”

Taylor Werner, who won the individual title at the John McNichols Invite, made it 2-for-2 on the season capturing the individual title at the Chile Pepper on her home course. The senior from Ste. Genevieve, Mo. set the pace from the gun working her way to the front off the starting line and never looking back. Werner (15:45.40) led a squad that placed four Razorbacks in the top-five as she was joined by Katie Izzo in second-place (15:50.20), Devin Clark in third-place (16:13.00), and Carina Viljoen in fourth-place (16:15.10). Both Werner and Izzo broke the course record set by former Razorback All-American Dominique Scott-Efrud who ran 16:01.00 to win the 2014 Chile Pepper. This marks the second-straight week that Werner has both won a meet and broken a course record.

Rounding out scoring for the Razorbacks was Abby Gray in 17th place running 17:06.20. Maddy Reed finished as the Razorback’s six and freshman Isabel Van Camp finished as the No. 7 runner for the Razorbacks as the duo finished 20th and 52nd, respectively.

“In two weeks we’ll run at the prestigious Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invite,” said Harter. “We’ll also activate Lauren Gregory who ran well today as well, so we’ll be at full strength. We’re seven weeks out from the national meet and as far as the coaching staff goes we’re right on schedule to be ready ultimately for a run at NCAA’s,” Harter finished

Next up for the Razorbacks will be a trip to the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invite at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wis. on Oct. 19.

For more information on Arkansas Cross Country including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.