FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Texas A&M University-Commerce cross country teams raced on Saturday morning in Agri Park at the Chile Pepper Festival, the Lion men took 16^th, while the women finished 25^th.
 
MEN (Full results HERE)
In the front of the pack for the Lions, Alex Speer (Robinson) timed 24:56.2 in the eight-kilometer race for 35^th, Josh Shanahan (Noosaville, Australia) clocked in at 25:26.0 for 72^nd, Casey Novelo (Bedford – Trinity) finished 81^st with a time of 25:34.9, Nicholas Deutsch (Frisco) placed 121^st with a time of 26:09.3, and Jeremiah Garcia (Northwest Eaton) took 149^th with a time of 26:41.7.
 
Rounding out the Lions, Adbisa Ali (McKinney North) clocked in at 26:51.6, Noah Fernandez (San Antonio Central Catholic) took 164^th with a time of 27:00.2, Yosef Abdulrazeq (Mansfield Legacy) took 28:04.1, Joe Cruz (Hillsboro) finished 220^th with a time of 28:06.3, Taylor Warrick (Stockdale) timed 28:10.1 for 221^st, and Tristen Sabin (Frisco – Independence) timed 28:43.3 for 235^th.

The 16^th place finish is the best for the Lion men at the Chile Pepper Festival in program history.
 
"Toda, our men took another step toward what we are preparing for, the SLC Championship meet in 34 days," said assistant coach Mark Hamiter. "Though we had a few mishaps, I was particularly impressed by how our freshmen responded. Josh Shanahan is rounding into form and stepping up nicely, and Abdisa Ali ran his collegiate debut race in a crowded field, showing lots of promise."
 
"Seniors Alex Speer and Casey Novelo, as always, were steady leaders in our front pack. Amid a deep training cycle, Jeremiah Garcia and Nicholas Deutsch are building tons of fitness, that we believe will show up for our championship."
 
WOMEN (Full Results HERE)
Mareva Heck (Marseille, France) was the top finisher for the Lion women with a time of 19:35.6 for 155^th, Haleigh Risner (Winnsboro) clocked in at 20:18.7 for 188^th, Riley Roberts (Bullard) was 201^st was with a time of 20:43.2, Oriana Gee (Cy-Lakes) took 243^rd with a time of 24:32.5, and Adalyn Kobs (Lindale) was 245^th with a time of 24:38.8.
 
Hamiter added, "Our women's team was led by freshman Mareva Heck, who is really coming into her own as the season progresses. We are excited about where our training is taking us in the coming weeks."
 
UP NEXT
The Lions are next in action on October 18 at the Watson Collegiate Classic in Clinton, Mississippi.