The Missouri State cross country team finished eighth at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday.  The Bears, with 300 points at the meet, defeated other regionally ranked schools, Alabama (12th place, 390 points), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi  (17th, 404), TCU (18th, 406),  Texas-Arlington (23rd, 619), and Nebraska (24th,630).   No other Missouri Valley Conference schools competed in the 39 team field.

Leading the way for Missouri State was Pasca Cheruiyot, who set yet another school record with her time of 20:27.18 in the 6K race.  It was the second time in as many races that Cheruiyot set the Missouri State school record.  Freshman Terry Phillips finished with a personal best time of 21:34.22 in 29th place.   Senior Jamie Vest also ran a personal best time of 21:41.39, finishing in 33rd place. 

In addition to Cheruiyot’s new school record, Phillips’ and Vest’s times also ranked in the top-10 all-time.  Phillips’ time is the seventh best all time, while Vest’s time is the ninth fastest.

Nancy Nieto and Andrea Marshall rounded out the team scores also running personal bests.  Nieto ran a 23:02.83, 17 seconds faster than her previous personal best.  Marshall ran a 23:06.79, 50 seconds better than her previous best time.

Missouri State’s next competition will be hosting the State Farm MVC Cross Country Championships at the MSU Cross Country Course on November 1.