Connell leads NIACC men at Arkansas Chile Pepper

FAYETTVILLE, Ark. – The No. 17 (NJCAA Division I) NIACC men’s cross country team placed 45th out of 49 teams at the University of Arkansas Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival Saturday at Agri Park.

The Trojans totaled 1,183 points.

Host Arkansas won the meet with 38 points. Iowa Central was second with 125 points and Dallas Baptist was third with 163 points.

The individual champion in the 8-kilometer race was Frankline Tonui, who was running unattached and crossed the finish line in 24 minutes, 5 seconds. Arkansas’ Gilbert Boit was second, also in 24:05.

NIACC was led by freshman Gavin Connell, who placed 250th in a personal-best 28:16. Other counting scores for the Trojans were Abdiaziz Wako (280th in 28:41), Sam Pedelty (289th in a personal-best 28:46), Daniel Hennigar (291st in 28:47) and Grant Dieken (310th in 29:10).

Also for the Trojans, Zane Miller was 324th in a personal-best 29:32 and Isaac Branstad was 373rd in 30:34.

NIACC returns to action next Saturday at the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn.