FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Oct. 1, 2021) – Bolstered by the return of two key runners, Oklahoma Christian finished 13th in the Chile Pepper Festival's Prairie Fire race on Friday afternoon at Agri Park.

Competing in their first race of the season were junior Jelte van Atten of Leiden, Netherlands, and sophomore Ethan Anthony of Mornington, Australia. Among OC runners, van Atten led the way, placing 21st among 256 runners with a time of 26:51.2 over 8,000 meters. Anthony placed 148th in 30:18.1.

The Prairie Fire race was one of two divisions of collegiate races run as part of the Chile Pepper Festival and included teams from NCAA Divisions II and III, the NAIA, the NCCAA and junior colleges. OC posted a team score of 392. Another Division II program, Southwest Baptist (Mo.), won with a score of 56, with Oklahoma Baptist second at 81.

Other OC runners who competed included freshman Griffin Chesire of Eldoret, Kenya, (45th in 27:27.2), freshman Cade Berkey of Hydro, Okla. (107th in 29:03.3), sophomore Austin McNair of Denton, Texas (132nd in 29:43.0) and freshman Christian Fair of Stillwater, Okla. (31:00.6).

Gudisa Adnow of Fort Scott (Kan.) won with a time of 25:09.9.

OC's final regular-season race of the season will be on Oct. 9, when the Eagles compete in the South Central Regional Preview in Lubbock, Texas. The Lone Star Conference Championship race will be in Lawton on Oct. 23.