The DBU women's cross country team finished 11th overall at the Chile Pepper Festival, scoring 294 points. Host Arkansas claimed the team title with 69 points, followed by Mississippi State in second with 83 points and Tulsa in third with 89 points. East Central (Okla.) was the only NCAA Division II team to finish ahead of the Patriots, placing fifth overall with 187 points. 
 

Lesli Salas led the Patriots with a 17th-place finish in 16:58.4, crossing the line as the second Division II runner. Kylie Himes followed in 64th at 17:58.1, leading a string of Patriots across the finish line. Montse Guerra finished 65th in 17:59.0, followed by Courtney Hobbs in 72nd at 18:03.1 and Emma Bielkiewicz in 76th at 18:09.2 to round out DBU's scoring five. 
 

PATRIOT PONDERINGS 

While the Patriots' 11th-place finish may not immediately stand out, the result came against one of the strongest fields DBU has faced this season. Compared to the team's seventh-place finish at the Chile Pepper Festival two seasons ago, DBU's performance requires additional context.   
 

The Patriots posted a 17:49 team average, but the gap between Salas and Himes allowed several teams to place their runners between DBU's first and second finishers. East Central took advantage of that opportunity, placing four runners in the top 40, including the fifth-place individual finisher, to finish fifth as a team. 
 

East Central entered the weekend unranked nationally and outside the top 10 of the Central Region rankings, but its performance could significantly impact the regional and national rankings moving forward. The result also gives the Patriots an opportunity to respond later in the season, with East Central scheduled to compete at DBU's Old Glory Gallop. 
 

There were also several encouraging performances from DBU's freshman runners. Guerra and Bielkiewicz both finished among the Patriots' scoring five, helping DBU finish ahead of Oklahoma Baptist in 13th. Anastasia Tronicek (77th, 18:10.3) and Makayla Stephens (86th, 18:21.8) strengthened DBU's team finish by pushing back scoring runners on other teams, providing additional depth as the season progresses. 
 

The Patriots also bolstered their position within the Lone Star Conference, finishing ahead of conference opponents St. Edward's and UT Tyler, which placed 16th and 17th, respectively. 
 

UP NEXT 

The Patriots will return to the Metroplex for their home meet, the Old Glory Gallop. DBU will welcome several teams from across the nation to compete in one of the premier meets of the season. The race is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at AP Ranch in Fort Worth.