AUBURN, Ala.—The Auburn cross country team will compete at the 2020 Southeastern Conference Championships on Friday morning at the University Club Golf Course in Baton Rouge, La. The women's 6k race will begin at 9:05 a.m. CT with the men's 8k to follow at 10 a.m.
Junior Abbey Zane has had a strong 2020 season leading the Tigers in all three races of the season. The Huntsville, Ala., native was 15th overall two weeks ago at the Blazer Classic as just 13 places separated Auburn's top six finishers.
"I think on the women's side, we have a very nice pack," Auburn cross country coach David Barnett said. "We have about six or seven women that I feel very good about who have been getting better each and every week. My hope is that we'll go out in the middle of the pack and kind of work our way up. As a whole we have a good opportunity to have a solid pack and have a big a big race."
The Auburn men have been led this season by senior Tommy McDonough, junior Silas Kipngetich and freshman Ryan Kinnane. Each has taken turns being the Tigers' top finisher this season. McDonough and fellow senior Jack Rogers will be competing in their fourth SEC Cross Country Championship of their career.
"The men are again getting better and better," Barnett said. "This will be the first time we've been able to line up our top five, which is which is hard to believe. This will be our first opportunity to put everyone together and get after it, so I'm excited. Veterans Silas (Kipngetich), Tommy (McDonough) and Jack (Rogers) have been very consistent for us over the last three years. We have everything to gain nothing to lose in these opportunities. They've been working hard together and I think it'll be a quality result for the men."
The race will be televised live on the SEC Network and can be streamed at https://auburntige.rs/3oDIlP0. Live results will be available at: https://auburntige.rs/3ozl0OA.