WICHITA, Kan. – The Shocker cross country program heads to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the 30th Annual Chile Pepper Festival on Saturday, Sept. 22.
 
The Shockers return to Fayetteville after not competing at the Chile Pepper Invitational last season. In 2016, the men's team finished second, led by former Shocker Ugis Jocis in 16th overall. As a sophomore, Rebekah Topham finished 10th overall leading the women to a fourth place team finish.
 
The 30th Annual Chile Pepper Festival will feature approximately 6,500 athletes from nearly 120 high schools and 80 colleges.
 
Wichita State will compete in full strength for the first time since the J.K. Gold Classic on Sept. 1. The men's team is set to run in the men's collegiate 8K at 9:30 a.m., followed by the women competing in the women's collegiate 5K at 10:20 a.m.
 
Captains Zack Penrod and Rebekah Topham each have led their teams to a top-15 midwest regional ranking. In three weeks of polls, the men have been idle at No. 14. The women entered the pre-season rankings at No. 15, after winning the J.K. Gold Classic they then jumped up two spots to No. 13. After finishing 11th in last week's Missouri Southern Stampede with a young women's squad, the team dropped down to No. 15.
 
Top-ranked Arkansas enters the competition as the team to beat. The Razorback men and women rank No. 1 in the south central region, as well as top-15 national rankings. The women sit No. 9 in the USTFCCCA national coaches poll, while the men come in at No. 14.
 
The Razorbacks swept the 2017 Chile Pepper Invitational team and individual Division I titles. The Razorback men's team finished five in the top-10, including the men's 10K champion Alex George (29:45.4). The women finished four in the top-5 en route to winning the team title, including the women's 5K champion Ashton Endsley (16:48.0).
 
Arkansas isn't the only other team to watch. Texas State, South Alabama and North Texas each enter the competition with teams ranked in the top-15 of their respected regions.
 
Top Division II program's competing in the collegiate races includes Missouri Southern State, Dallas Baptist, Oklahoma Baptist and Drury.