Nov. 3, 2008
STARKVILLE, Miss. -
Auburn's Girma Mecheso claimed the men's individual 8K title and Holly Knight finished as the women's 6K runner-up Monday at the Southeastern Conference Championship at the Mississippi State Cross Country Course in Starkville. The 11th-ranked men's team had 62 points for a runner-up finish and the women tallied 127 points to place fifth.
"We had expectations heading into today and I knew we had three guys that had a chance to win this race," Watson said. "I told them to take a shot at it and Girma was there. It was a team effort for Girma to win that race. He's a freshman that has learned a lot since his first race and I'm proud of him. He ran great.
"Holly is a great talent," Watson continued. "She ran a great race and I expect great things from her. When you're the favorite coming into a race it's a little harder, but she was able control and dictate the race."
The men's performance at the league championship snapped a 23-year drought on two levels. Individually, the Tigers had not had a male runner finish atop of the podium since Brian Abshire in 1985. Abshire won his title on a five mile course. Mecheso is Auburn's first SEC titlist on an 8K course. As a team, it is Auburn's highest finish since that 1985 season when the Tigers were runner-up.
Mecheso clocked his fastest 8K at 23:11.26 and crossed the line five seconds ahead of runner-up Tyson Davis of Alabama. Mecheso's time is the best in the SEC this season. Monday's win marked the highest finish for the freshman hailing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
"I really wanted to get up there to finish in the top three or top five," Mecheso said. "We all train together and we all do the same thing together. In the end, this was my race today and I am happy about that. As a team, our plan was to get in the top three and we went for it and finished second. Everybody is happy."
Not far back from Mecheso were counterparts Elkanah Kibet and Felix Kibioywo, placing third and fourth, respectively. Kibet clocked a career-best time of 23:20.35 to capture third place. Kibioywo finished fourth in 23:26.98, also a career best. Kibioywo, who placed sixth at the SEC Championship a year ago, earns his second All-SEC honor in as many tries.
Combined, Mecheso, Kibet and Kibioywo have finished among the top 10 on 12 occasions this season.
"It's very exciting seeing those three guys up there," Watson said. "Scott Novack and Julian Matthews really helped us out today. They didn't quit. Scott held out some people. Our role players were able to get it done today."
Novack placed 22nd, crossing the line in 24:44.47, followed by freshman Julian Matthews in 25:08.92 at 33rd. Matthews was the fifth-highest placing freshman in the race. Running in his first race of the season, Jean-Pierre Weerts clocked in a 25:22.22 and Joby Peake was right behind him at 25:23.20 to claim 39th and 40th places, respectively. Freshman Jeff Sanders rounded out the Tiger lineup, finishing 72nd in a personal best of 26:20.04.
On the women's side, Knight ran to a runner-up finish in a career-best time of 20:18.52 and earned her second All-SEC nod. The Devon, England, native, has finished among the top four in all of her sophomore season races. Arkansas' Catherine White won the individual title in 20:07.26.
"The race today went really well," Knight said. "It was a tough course; really hilly. I knew that I had to get out there and push the pace. To run the time that I did, I was pretty impressed. My training has been really good. I have the confidence and I need to go out hot again at Regionals and push the whole way. As a team, we had a great race today. We ran as we were suppose to and we finished higher than predicted."
Laurel Pritchard and Sabrina Fischer finished the race at 20th and 21st, respectively. Pritchard posted her season-best 6K time with a 21:34.39 and Fischer mirrored by notching her season-best with a 21:37.86.
"The women's team had a great run today," Watson said. "Each year we want to get better. Laurel ran a real tough race for us today. She kept her head in there. Everyone was great for us. We're really happy."
Two other women's runners placed in the top 50 with Amber Riley completing the course in 22:03.93 to finish 37th, followed by Becca Bell at 50th in 22:42.06. Allison Smith and Cathryn Albright rounded out the women's efforts, coming in at 23:12.29 and 24:08.26, respectively, to finish 65th and 84th.
The Tigers will be back in action Nov. 15 at the NCAA South Regional in Maryville, Tenn.