The Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival was created to bring together three Northwest Arkansas cross-country races under a single event. The Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival is now one of the premier running events in America.
Each year over 80 college teams and 120 high school teams battle for prestige and unique Chile Pepper themed awards. Additionally, 750 individuals participate in the Open 10k and 5K Fun Run plus the New Tom Lewis 1 Mile Pepper Dash on Friday Night. The event is held at University of Arkansas' incredible off road course and all runners are invited to enjoy a Hot Mexican food feast following the race.
In 2016, the Chile Pepper celebrated its 28th year and hosted approximately 6,500 runners and over 6,000 spectators the weekend of October 1st, 2016. The support of sponsors, runners, and athletes has contributed more than $500,000 to Northwest Arkansas cross-country programs. $56,000 was donated to area programs in 2016.
INFORMATION
Schedule Saturday-September 30th, 2017
General Public / Individuals
Chile Pepper Open 10K 7:15 a.m.
Chile Pepper Open 5K 8:45 a.m.
Awards - Chile Pepper Open 10K 9:05 a.m, 5K Open 9:30 a.m.
Students / School Teams
College / Open*
Men's Collegiate (10K) 9:30 a.m.
Women's Collegiate (5K) 10:20 a.m.
Awards - Collegiate Men and Women 11:10 a.m.
High School & Junior High
Senior High Boy's "El Caliente" (Varsity-5K) 11:00 a.m.
Senior High Girl's "El Caliente" (Varsity-5K) 11:30 a.m.
Senior High Boy's Open (5K) 12:15 pm.
Senior High Girl's Open (5K) 1:00 p.m.
Awards - Senior High School 1:45 p.m.
Junior High Boys (5K)1:45 p.m.
Junior High Girls (5K) 2:30 p.m.
Awards - Junior High School 3:15 p.m.
History
One day in 1988, Joe Fennel, Randy Rhine and Kelly O'Meara, the Fayetteville High School cross-country coach, were out running. Kelly mentioned that his cross-country budget was $100.00. In the days before development programs, there wasn't money for sports other than football and basketball. Joe and Randy were shocked and decided to do something about it. They created the Chile Pepper Running Club and from there, the Chile Pepper Run. It was originally held in May and consisted of the 10K open run only. The Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival was created in 1992 to bring together three northwest Arkansas cross-country races under a single event - the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival, which is now one of the premier running events in America. The Festival united the Chile Pepper Run; the Arkansas Invitational, the annual Lady'Back and Razorback home meet; and the Fayetteville High School's Purple Dog Invitational. Now the Chile Pepper hosts approximately 6,500 runners and over 6,000 spectators each year and is one of the largest cross country festivals in the nation. More than $500,000 has been given to northwest Arkansas cross-country programs. $56,000 was donated in 2016. This year we're helping 14 different High Schools in Northwest Arkansas as we hope to expand the winning traditions.
Teams Registered as of 9/26/2017 at 10am:
Adair Airline
Airline High School Alamo Heights Allen County Community College Alma High School Arkansas Arts Academy Arkansas Arts Academy JR Arkansas Arts Academy Penguins Arkansas Tech University Awty International Baker University Bakersfield HighSchool Bartlesville Boys Bartlesville Boys JV Bartlesville Girls Bartlesville Girls JV Beebe High School Belton Boys Belton Girls Benton High School
Bentonville High School Bentonville West
Bergman Jr Boys Bergman Jr Girls Bergman Sr Girls Berryville Bethel University Bishop Bishop Kelley Bishop Kelley - JV Bishop Kelley - M Bishop McGuinness Blue Springs South Blue Valley North Bolivar Liberators Boston College Briarcrest Christian School Broken Arrow HS broken arrow jh Bryant High School Buffalo High School Cabot Cabot High School Carl Albert High School Carl Albert High School Girls Casady School Cave City High School Central Arkansas Central Arkansas Christian Central Baptist College Central High School Springfield Mo Central Junior High Charleston High School Christian Brothers University Clarksville Cnetral Arkansas College of the Ozarks Colorado School of Mines Conway Christian eagles Conway High School Conway Jr. High Cookson Hills Christian School COWETA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY COWETA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Creighton University Crowley's Ridge College Men Dallas Baptist University Deer Creek High School Dover Jr. Boys Dover Jr. Girls Dover Lady Pirates Dover Pirates East Central University East Newton East Texas Baptist University Elkins High School EMHS Boys Episcopal Collegiate School Boys Open Episcopal Collegiate School Cross Country Episcopal Collegiate School Girls Open Eureka Eureka High School Eureka Springs Highlanders Evangel University Farmington Jr. Boys Farmington Jr. Girls Farmington Sr. Boys Farmington Sr. Girls Fayetteville High School Fayetteville Purple Fayetteville White Festus Fort Smith Southside Guys Fort Smith Southside Varsity Fort Worth Boswell Fort Worth Boswell 2 Friends University Fulbright Junior High School Genoa Central Gentry High School Gentry Middle School George Junior High Cross Country Gravette Green Forest High School Green Forest Junior High Greenbrier Greenbrier High School Girls Greenbrier Junior High Boys Greenland Greenwood High School Greenwood Junior High Grenland Haas Hall Academy Haas Hall Academy Bentonville Haas Hall Bentonville Haas Hall Springdale Har-Ber Har-Ber High School - Girls Harding Academy harrison high school sr girls Harrison Junior High Haskell Indian Nations University Haughton High School Heber Springs High School Heritage Heritage High School Hermitage School Hollister High School Hot Springs High School Hot Springs High School Boys JV Hot Springs High School Girls Hot Springs High School GirlsJV Hot Springs Middle School Boys Hot Springs Middle School Girls Houston High School Boys Houston High School Girls Houston Stratford Huntsville, AR SR GIRLS Huntsville, AR SR BOYS Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy Indian Hills Community College Jenks High School Jenks JV Jessieville High School Boys John Brown University Men John Brown University Women Jonesboro High School Boys Jonesboro High School Girls Junction Hill School KCE Lions Keller High School - Blue Keller High School - Gold Kickapoo High School Kirk Academy Ladue High School Lady Vikings Lake Hamilton High School Lake Hamilton Jr. High School Lakeside Boys Lakeside Girls Lakeside High Liberal Bulldogs Liberal Bulldogs (Girls) Liberal Bulldogs JV Liberty High (MO) Life Way Christian Lincoln Christian Lincoln Christian Girls Lincoln Junior High Lindenwood University Little Rock Catholic Little Rock Central Little Rock Christian Little Rock Christian Academy Lockhart High School Lone Jack High School Lone Jack High School Team 2 Louisiana State University Shreveport Lyman High School Manila High School Mansfield Marietta High School Marshfield High School Maumelle High School Maumelle Junior High McDonald County McDonald County High School McLean Melbourne High School Melbourne Jr High Melbourne Jr. High Midwestern State University Miller Grove Mills Comets Mills Comets - Jr. Boys Mills Comets - Jr. Girls Missouri State University Monticello Billies Monticello Lady Billies Montrose Bluejays Morrilton Devil Dogs Mount Dora Christian Academy Mount Dora Christian Middle School Mount Saint Mary Mount St. Mary Open Mount St. Mary Varsity Mountain Home MSU Denver Mustang High School Norman High School Norman North Northside Northwest Missouri State University Northwestern Oklahoma State University OKC Storm Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma Christian University Men Oklahoma Christian University Women Oklahoma City University OKrunner (m) OKrunner (w) Ouachita Baptist University Ozark Junior High Boys Ozark Junior High Girls Parkvew Cross Country Parkview Arts/Science Parkview Cross Country Paschal Pottsville High School Pottsville Junior High School Prairie Grove Prairie Grove High School Pratt Community College Pulaski Academy Ramay Junior High Boys Ramay Junior High Girls Rogers Heritage Jr High Rogers Heritage Jr High Girls Russellville Russsellville Sacred Heart High School Saint Joseph Central High School Salem High School Santa Clara University Sapulpa High School Boys Varsity Sapulpa High School Girls Varsity Sequoyah High School Shawnee Mission East Seniors Shawnee Mission East Varsity Shiloh Christian School Siloam Springs Siloam Springs HS Smithson Valley Southern Arkansas University Southwest Junior High Southwestern Oklahoma State University Springdale High School Springfield Catholic High Schol St. Joseph Catholic School St. Mark's School of Texas St. Mark's Varsity Boys Star City Stilwell High Girls Stilwell Varsity Boys Strafford Cross Country Strafford High School Tabor College Men Tabor College Women Tahlequah boys jv xc tahlequah boys xc Tahlequah Girls Junior Varsity Tahlequah girls Varsity Texas A&M Commerce Texas High Texas State University Texas Tech Univ The New School Trinity University (Texas) Turner Pool UA - Monticello Men's XC UAFS UALR UIW Univerisity of Arkansas-Fort Smith University of Arkansas University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas Rio Grande Valley University of the Ozarks Valley Springs Jr High Lady Tigers Valley Springs JR High Tigers Valley Springs Lady Tigers Valley Springs Tigers Van Buren High School Van Buren HS Van Buren JH Vikings Vilonia High School Vilonia Junior High School Washington Washington High School Washington Junior High Washtington Junior high Wayland Baptist University Webb City West Fork West Plains Middle School West Texas A&M Westminster Christian Academy Westminster Christian Academy 2 Westmoore Boys Westmoore H.S. Girls Westmoore Senior Boys Willard High School Boys Willard High School Girls William Woods Williams Baptist College Woodland Junior High
