Nov. 12, 2010
AUBURN, Ala. -- Seven Auburn cross country student-athletes turns their focus to the NCAA South Regional Championships Saturday. Three women and four men runners are set to compete at Veterans Park in Hoover, Ala.
Stephanie Barnes, Holly Knight and Allison Smith will run a 6K race beginning at 9:45 a.m., followed by Ben Cheruiyot, Mark Fleming, Joby Peake and Jeff Sanders in a 10K race at 10:45 a.m. All seven Tigers raced well at the SEC Championships, and have shifted their concentration to the South Regional meet.
"We recovered from the SEC (Championships), and everyone had excellent workouts," head coach Mark Carroll said. "This week was about tapering the training, and getting focused for the regional meet."
Barnes, Cheruiyot and Knight enter this weekend after earning All-SEC First Team accolades for their strong performances at the SEC Championships.
Cheruiyot, a junior from Eldoret, Kenya, ran 24 minutes, 01.36 seconds in the men's 8K race to finish second. Last season Cheruiyot finished third at the NCAA South Regional, earning All-South Region accolades.
"Ben (Cheruiyot) is running strong this season, and should secure an individual spot to the NCAA (Championships)," Carroll said.
Knight, a native of Devon, England, ran a season best 20:49.39 to finish in the runner-up spot in the women's 6K race. In 2008, Knight won the NCAA South Regional title, and went on to be named the NCAA South Region Athlete of the Year.
"Holly is hitting peak form right now, and is ready for this weekend's challenge of making it back to the NCAA (Championships)," Carroll said. "Stephanie will also challenge for an individual spot."
Barnes, of Clevdon, England, ran a personal-best 21:15.86 good for seventh-place at the SEC Championships, and looks to improve upon her 14th place finish at last year's NCAA South Regional.
All runners this weekend are competing to earn a spot in the NCAA Cross Country Championships Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.