RESULTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The UT Dallas men's cross country team placed fourth in the Prairie Fire division of the prestigious Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival on Friday. The women finished 20th in a 34-team field.

The Comet men recorded 227 points, finishing behind a trio of NCAA Division II teams (Drury, Rogers State, Oklahoma Baptist) in the 38-school pool.

Junior Devan Bailey paced UTD in 26:23.3 on the 8K course, finishing in 27th, followed by Graeme Maclean in 28th with a personal-best 26:25.0.

Senior Griffin Davis recorded a time of 26:49.7, placing 48th and graduate student Trent Sakakin was 58th in 27:00.8. Freshman Christopher Castro was 67th in 27:07.4, a season-best time. 

Matthew Chimitt, Javion Zavala, Andy Hamze, Brennan Hilts, Gavin Thomas, Justin Ardis and Luke Pearson each recorded a collegiate-best.

The UTD women had 507 points and was the highest-finishing Division III team. 

Sophomore Rebeca Betanzo led the Comets and the DIII competitors with a career-best 5K mark of 19:25.7, placing 35th. Sage Herrera also had a PR 19:26.8 to finish in 37th. 

Freshman Hannah Edwards was 141st in 21:30.6 and junior Jocelyn Heckenkamp placed 168th with a PR of 22:04.9. Freshman Abby Valdez rounded out the scoring in 174th place with a season-best 22:11.0.

Freshmen Medha Kotra and Aparna Amarneethi also recorded their collegiate best times.

The Comets will be back in action on October 15 at the DBU Old Glory Gallop in Grand Prairie, Texas.

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