Auburn, Ala.—The Auburn cross country team will compete in the 2019 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, Friday, November 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The men's 8k is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. CT, followed by the women's 6k at 9 a.m.
"It's been a good season. We've been conservative as far as our racing schedule and really been focused on getting better every day and the process," Auburn cross country coach David Barnett said. "I think we're going to get a good result on Friday."
Training leading up to SEC Championships has been efficient for the Tigers. They have had since early October to train after they competed in the Joe Piane Invitational the first weekend of October.
"It's just trying to get your legs back underneath you," Barnett said. "We do a couple of things that are shorter and much faster than race pace just to feel fast as much as anything. So when you go out there and the gun goes off, you don't feel like your legs are too heavy. I feel like this week, the team that is rested and ready to go, is going to have a big edge."
On the men's side, coach Barnett expects senior Andy Smith, juniors Tommy McDonough and Jack Rogers and sophomore Silas Kipngetich to be the top four runners with a strong backend fifth guy being either true freshmen Hunter Harwell or Evan Rogers.
"I think our men are in a good place," Barnett said. "We don't have a big group, but our top four men are guys who have been getting better and better. It's going to be whoever has the best number five guy and the best consistency up front. I feel good about the guys that we have."
On the women's side, Barnett has noticed improvement as the season has progressed. With a younger lineup, he has been impressed with how the women's side has stepped up and contributed at this level.
"Outside of Joyce Kimeli, who's a junior, Faith Bett, Abbey Zane, Gigi Maddox, and Hannah Tarwater are sophomores, and Hannah Dyal is a true freshman. These are women we are going to be relying on," Barnett said. "The women have been getting better and better. I think they're starting to build up a lot of confidence. I feel like they're finally realizing they can belong."
Kimeli, who finished fifth at the 2018 SEC Cross Country Championships, has had an outstanding 2019 season, finishing third at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and second two weeks ago at the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational.
Coverage of the SEC Cross Country Championships begins at 8 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.
Official results will be available at http://pttiming.com/events/87931608