Sept. 9, 2008
AUBURN - Auburn newcomers Elkanah Kibet and Girma Mecheso have been named SEC Male Athlete and Freshman of the Week, respectively, following their performances Sept. 5 at the Powerade Invitational, the league office announced Tuesday.
Kibet, a junior college transfer from Rend Lake Community College, won the first event of his Auburn career by claiming top honors at the 5K Powerade Invitational with a time of 14:49. With the first weekend of competition in the books, Kibet currently holds the fastest 5K time in the conference.
Mecheso has been named Male Freshman of the Week after he completed the one-two-punch for the Tigers at the Powerade Invitational, crossing the line five seconds behind Kibet at 14:54. A native of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mecheso finished 28 seconds ahead of the third-place runner.
The Auburn men won the team title and had five runners finish in the top 10, including the top-four spots.
The Tigers will travel to Falcon Heights, Minn., Sept. 27 to compete at the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota. The men's 8K race will start at 12:10 p.m. with the women's 6K race to follow at 12:55 p.m.