AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn cross country team will compete at the 2021 Southeastern Conference Championships Friday morning at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri. The women's 6k race will begin at 10:08 a.m. CT with the men's 8k to follow at 10:50 a.m. CT.
"This team has done a really nice job of not riding that emotional roller coaster that comes with a season like this," said Tigers cross country coach Aaron Kindt. "They've done a good job of sticking to our guns and not getting too focused on ourselves as individuals. We know the challenges we will face, but I feel great about what they're capable of doing this weekend."
For the Auburn men, it has been senior Tommy McDonough and sophomore Ryan Kinnane leading the way.
McDonough led the Tigers at FSU Pre-Nationals and at the Foothills Invitational, claiming the meet's top finish and helping secure the Tigers' first team win since 2017. Kinnane carried the torch in back-to-back meets, the FSU XC Open and the Joe Piane Invitational. The duo will be competing in their fifth and second SEC Championships, respectively.
Since her return, senior Joyce Kimeli has easily been the women's top finisher, claiming first place in the women's 5k at the Joe Piane Invitational and 10th in the women's 6k at FSU Pre-Nationals.
Kimeli has competed in three previous SEC Championships during her tenure, notching top-five finishes in two of them.
A total of 13 Tigers are set to compete for the conference's top honors at the event. Making the trip for the men will be seniors McDonough and Jackson Thomas, sophomores Carson Bedics and Kinnane and freshmen Cooper Atkins and Mark Foster. For the women, it will be seniors Kimeli, Louisa McPherson and Presley Weems, junior Sara Pacer, sophomore Samantha Rogers and freshmen Hallie Porterfield and Hannah Thuss.
The event will be televised live on the SEC Network and can be streamed from ESPN.com. Live timing will be available at pttiming.com.
Attendance is free and encouraged for all fans.