University of Houston


Chile Pepper Invitational
Cross Country Finished Tough Race At Chili Pepper Festival
10/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 13, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Houston cross country teams ran a tough race this morning with the men placing 23rd and the women taking a 27ht place in at the University of Arkansas's cross country course in Fayetteville, Ark. during the Chili Pepper Festival. Jessica Cook led the women for the second time this season coming in 117th overall while Ahmed Harb led the men for the first time this season placing 49th overall.
"I felt like we got what we came here to get out of the meet," head coach Ryan Turner said. "We got big time competition and saw the level we're really running and competing at. It was a great preparation for conference and regionals."
The usual men's lead runner, Stephen Magness, was forced to drop out of the race after suffering from a sickness, that left Daniel Martinez and Harb to step up for the men's team, which they did. Harb ran a 31:58 10K placing 49th and leading the men, Martinez took in a 32:18 10K and a 66th place finish.
"Daniel and Ahmed did great," said Turner. "Those guys are getting very consistent, doing a great job and working hard."
The women had 6K race to overcome with Cook in the lead. She had a time of 23:27.9 coming in 117th. Oumama Hallal was seconds behind with a 23:58.6 time and a 141st place.
"Jessica ran very well and had a very smart race," Turner said. "I was very happy with Oumama's performance. We just need to get better, bottom line and this was a great start."
The next meet will be the Conference USA Championships hosted by UTEP in El Paso, Texas on October 27.
Complete Houston Results
Men's 10K
No. 49 Ahmed Harb 31:58
No. 66 Daniel Martinez 32:18
No. 139 Nathan Trimble 34:09.8
No. 153 Antony Keller 34:45.5
No. 190 Adrian Slusher 36:25.6
Women's 6K
No. 117 Jessica Cook 23:27.9
No. 141 Oumama Hallal 23:58.6
No. 150 Kelcee Keenan 24:10.9
No. 165 Adriane Guinn 24:33.6
No. 182 Erica Hannemann 24:57.1
No. 205 Jasmine Trier 25:33.8
No. 249 Lindsey Marshall 27:16.6