Oct. 31, 2010
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn men's and women's cross country teams get set to compete at the 2010 SEC Cross Country Championships in Columbia, S.C., Monday. Action at Hilton Field at Fort Jackson begins with the women's 6K at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 11 a.m.
After a strong regular season and top individual performances Auburn aims to finish in the top half of the conference.
"We aim to finish in the top five in both competitions," head coach Mark Carroll said.
The Tigers enter the SEC Championships after recording seven personal-best times at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival Oct. 16, and have sharpened their workouts to prepare for Monday's races.
"Since the Chile Pepper meet we have recovered well, and put in some fine tuning workouts," Carroll added.
Auburn look to senior Holly Knight and junior Ben Cheruiyot should lead their respective teams, and vie for an individual title.
"Holly Knight should lead the women's team home, and contend for the individual title," Carroll said.
Knight has been the women's team top finisher three out of the four races this season. She took the top honor at the Crimson Classic and Memphis Twilight Cross Country Festival, and finished third at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival.
"On the men's side, Ben should be our No. 1 scorer, and also challenge for the title," Carroll said.
Cheruiyot has been the men's team top performer all season, and looks to continue that Monday. He finished fifth at the Chile Pepper Festival with a personal-best 10K (29:21.06) in a field full of the nation's top runners.