Nov. 10, 2017
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Auburn cross country junior distance runner Brenda Kigen finished fourth at the NCAA South Regional at the Harry Pritchett Running Park on Friday to qualify for the 2017 NCAA Cross Country National Championships.
"I feel good and I'm really happy to say that I'm going to the championship, because I didn't feel like it was going to happen," Kigen said.
Kigen, a product of Eldoret, Kenya, clocked a 19:46.2 in the 6k, an improvement from her 20:23.4 ran on the same course at the Crimson Classic. It is the second time she has advanced to the national championships, previously doing so as a freshman in 2015 where she would go on to finish 54th.
The 2017 NCAA Cross Country National Championships will be held in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday Nov. 18.
"I'm just excited for her," Auburn assistant cross country and track and field coach David Barnett said of Kigen. "She puts in the work and there's no secrets in running. She put herself in position to compete at a high level and she actually finishes when it matters. Everyone wants it the first mile, but who wants it the last mile? I'm just really proud that she got out of it what she puts in."
Freshman Joyce Kimeli finished 20th at 20:36.0 while fellow freshman Faith Bett clocked a 21:00.5 to finish 36th.
The women finished sixth in the event with an average time of 20:53.34 and 199 points. The men finished seventh in the 10k with an average of 32:10.00.
Senior Kevin Wyss was the men's top finisher for the final time in his cross country career and was so in 3-of-5 events this season. The Albuquerque, N.M. native finished 18th with a time of 31:22.9. Fellow seniors Coleman Churitch (32:08.1), Mitchell Gomez (32:15.5) and Wesley Pectol (32:22.1) finished 40th, 50th and 51st, respectively.
Auburn Women's 6k Finishers
Brenda Kigen 19:46.2 4th
Joyce Kimeli 20:36.0 20th
Faith Bett 21:00.5 36th
Andonet Cheruiyot 21:30.4 72nd
Cassie Bebout 21:33.6 74th
Presley Weems 21:54.4 94th
Emily Mills 22:26.3 128th
Auburn Men's 10k Finishers
Kevin Wyss 31:22.9 18th
Coleman Churitch 32:08.1 40th
Mitchell Gomez 32:15.5 50th
Wesley Pectol 32:22.1 51st
Jay Spieler 32:41.4 62nd
Erik Armes 33:30.1 101st
Wesley Curles 33:44.3 112th