Hiltz, Reed lead No. 12 Arkansas to first wins

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The 12th-ranked Arkansas women’s cross country team came away with two first place finishes at the Riverside Invitational (5k and 6k) and a fifth place finish at the Missouri Southern Stampede (5k) Saturday.

Riverside Invitational

The Razorbacks were dominant in both events in Riverside, California, having all seven participants finish in the top 13 in the 6k and all five finish in the top 10 in the 5k.

Senior Nikki Hiltz set the pace in the 6k with a time of 20:15.90 and a sixth place finish. The returning All-American Taylor Werner and 2016 South Central Region Champion Devin Clark were right behind Hiltz, crossing the finish line with time of 20:16.20 and 20:16.50.

Freshmen Lauren Gregory and Ashton Endsley shined in their debut as Razorbacks, with Gregory leading the way with a time of 20:17.20.

Alabama joined Arkansas in Riverside for the first time, with all seven Razorbacks finishing ahead of the fastest Crimson Tide runner in the 6k. It was the first time Arkansas has faced conference competition this season.

Arkansas placed four in the top 5 in the second race in Riverside. The 5k saw Maddy Reed take second place in her season debut, with a time of 17:32.60.

Sydney Brown had her second top-3 finish of the season, following a third place finish at the Cowboy Preview, finishing third with a time of 17:35.00.

6k Team Results (Top Three)

1. Arkansas – 36 (5-6-7-8-10-11-12)
2. Cal Coast Track Club – 72 (4-9-18-20-21-23-38)
3. Alabama – (17-19-24-40-41-44-52)

Arkansas 6k Results (Overall)

6. Nikki Hiltz- 20:15.90
7. Taylor Werner – 20:16.20
8. Devin Clark – 20:16.50
9. Lauren Gregory – 20:17.20
10. Carina Viljoen – 20:24.20
11. Therese Haiss – 20:25.40
12. Ashton Endsley – 20:27.70

5k Team Results (Top Three)

1. Arkansas – 24 (2-3-4-5-10)
2. Cal Poly Pomona – 71 (11-12-14-15-19-22-25)3
3. Stanislaus State – 130 (18-20-26-29-37-43-46)

Arkansas 5k Results (Overall)

2. Maddy Reed – 17:32.60
3. Sydney Brown – 17:35.00
4. Alex Ritchey – 17:35.50
5. Micah Huckabee – 17:37.10
6. Greta Taylor – 17:52.70

Missouri Southern Stampede

Coach Lance Harter sent a young group of three freshmen and two sophomores, with just one senior to Joplin, Missouri for the Missouri Southern Stampede.

Redshirt sophomore Claudia Verstraten had the best finish for the Razorbacks, finishing 14th with a time of 17:43.05 in her season debut.

Arkansas Results (Overall)

14. Claudia Verstraten – 17:43.05
15. Ruth Wiggins – 17:53.47
16. Katie Adams – 18:27.05
17. Payton Brown – 18:31.46
18. Emily Jeacock – 18:47.87
19. Theresa Iler – 19:08.76

Up Next
The Razorbacks will take a two week break from action and return Saturday, Sept. 30 for the 29^th annual Chili Pepper Festival at Agri Park and the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind.

2017 Cross Country Schedule

Fri, Sept. 1 – Cowboy Duals (Stillwater, Okla.) 2^nd of 4
Sat, Sept. 16 – Riverside Invitational (Riverside, Calif.) 1^st of 29
Sat, Sept. 16 – Southern Stampede (Joplin, Mo.) 5^th of 32
Sat, Sept. 30 – Chile Pepper Festival (Agri Park)
Sat, Sept. 30 – Notre Dame Invitational (South Bend, Ind.)
Sat, Oct. 14 – Pre-Nationals (Louisville, Ky.)
Fri, Oct. 27 – SEC Championship (Athens, Ga.)
Fri, Nov. 10 – NCAA South Central Regional (College Station, Texas)
Sat, Nov. 18 – NCAA Championship (Louisville, Ky.)