KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Auburn sophomore Nickson Chebii finished second overall at the SEC Cross Country Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, on the Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course, leading the men to a 12th-place finish with 320 points, while the women finished 16th with 404 points.
“Nickson was tremendous today,” Auburn cross country coach Aaron Kindt said. "The execution of his race plan and the composure he displayed throughout the race today was the best I’ve ever seen from him.”
For the Auburn men, Chebii set the pace as he has done all season. The Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya, native ran his best 8k of the season, crossing the line in 23:11.57. His finish was the best by an Auburn male since 2014, when Ty McCormack also claimed silver. Building on last season, Chebii improved his 2024 conference championships finish of ninth overall.
“I know how much this meet meant to him coming in, and to see him rise to the occasion and give himself a chance to win was special,” Kindt said.
Competing in his first SEC Cross Country Championships, Joshua Kosgei delivered a strong performance for the Tigers. He was the second to cross the line for the Orange and Blue, coming in at 24:44.34. Kosgei finished 61st overall.
Making his cross country conference championship debut, junior Evan Hill finished 84th overall with a time of 25:22.59. Racing in his fourth consecutive conference championships, senior Joseph Perry ran 26:50.22, and freshman Bryce McCleary rounded out the scoring for the men at 28:09.30.
Racing in her third meet of the season, senior Gené Coetzee led the Auburn women. In the 6k, the Johannesburg, South Africa native finished 68th overall in 21:42.83. Sophomore Camila Gomes followed with a time of 21:56.96, placing 78th in the standings.
Junior Cady McPhail remained a consistent contributor for the Auburn women, finishing as the team’s third runner, recording her third consecutive week as one of the top three. She crossed the line in 22:06.75 for her first 6k of the season.
Rounding out the Auburn women’s top five were junior Mary Mac Collins (22:17.77) and sophomore Addison Boyer (22:57.53).
Alabama won the men’s title with 64 points, and Florida claimed the women’s title with 45 points. Kelvin Cheruiyot of Florida and Alabama’s Doris Lemngole won the men’s and women’s titles, respectively.
Up Next
Auburn cross country will travel to Huntsville, Alabama, for the NCAA South Regionals at the John Hunt Cross Country Course on Friday, November 14.
SEC Cross Country Championships
Cherokee Farms Cross Country Course
Knoxville, Tennessee
Men’s Results (8k)
12. Auburn, 320 points
Individual Results
- Nickson Chebii, 23:11.47
61. Joshua Kosgei, 24:44.34
84. Evan Hill, 25:24.14
106. Joseph Perry, 26:50.22
107. Bryce McCleary, 28:09.30
172. Rex Green, 28:29.50
Women’s Results (6k)
16. Auburn, 404 points
Individual Results
68. Gene Coetzee, 21:42.83
78. Camila Gomes, 21:56.95
87. Cady McPhail, 22:06.75
97. Mary Mac Collins, 22:17.77
115. Addison Boyer, 22:43.73
124. Audrey Dunn, 22:57.53
131. Alexandra Walsh, 23:19.86
137. Olivia Stedl, 23:37.77
139. Kennedy Hamilton, 23:40.75
140. Ava Fields, 23:45.69
144. Mary Katherine Malone, 24:24.64