ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University Men's and Women's Cross Country look to sustain success this Friday at the Arkansas Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

Last time out, the Oakland men's team won the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open over USTFCCCA regionally ranked opponents in Eastern Michigan and Toledo as Adam Hill took runner-up status in 25:31.6 over the 8,000 kilometer course. 

Grace Nolan once again led the way in the women's 6,000 kilometer race in Bowling Green two weeks ago in sixth overall, clocking a time of 22:14.3 as the team finished third overall and holding 14th in the latest USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional Rankings on Tuesday. 

SCOUTING REPORT

The Arkansas Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival is one of the most prestigious meets in the nation as the Golden Grizzlies will descend upon Agri Park Friday against nationally-ranked competition in both races. The Oakland men will go head-to-head with No. 5 Tulsa and No. 16 Arkansas along with traditionally strong XC program Oklahoma. 

In the women's race, only No. 13 Arkansas will be the nationally-ranked program on the course at the same time as the host Razorback will be going for a tenth-straight meet victory. Both the Golden Grizzly men's and women's squads will be the only Horizon League teams in competition. 

The Agri Park Course has hosted NCAA South Central Regional competitions that snakes through a series of meadows and treelines varying from the 5,000 kilometer to 10,000 kilometer distances. 

 

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RUNNERS OF THE WEEK SWEEP
After only one meet on the course this season, Albrecht and Nolan earned Nike #HLXC Runners of the Week in the Horizon League's first edition this September.

NO. 1 ON THE COURSE
The Golden Grizzlies women's squad is predicted to win the Horizon League championship this October with the men's team slated for third overall.

RETURNING FORCE
Six of the top seven finishers for the men and five of the top seven for the women return to the team for the 2022 fall season.