TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Auburn cross country earned four top 15 individual finishes Friday at the NCAA South Regional at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida thanks to the All-Region performances coming by way of freshmen Brenda Jepchirchir and Nickson Chebii, sophomore Max Hardin, junior Gene Coetzee, and seniors Ryan Kinnane and Carson Bedics.
Following a strong, fifth-place finish in the 10k at the NCAA South Regional, Chebii and Kinnane are poised to become the men’s NCAA individual qualifiers. Kinnane qualified for his first NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2022 after his seventh-place finish at the South Regional that season.
The men and women delivered strong races, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively. The men had their second top five finish in the last three years at the meet and the lowest point total at regionals since 2014. It was the women’s best team finish at regionals since 2017.
“It was a bittersweet day,” Auburn cross country coach Aaron Kindt said. “I thought our top four guys had phenomenal days. They put us in a great position to be one of the top two teams at the meet. We just couldn’t keep it together in the five, six, seven spots and I know those guys are disappointed and a little bit heartbroken.”
For the men, Chebii and Kinnane led the way, as they have done all season long. Competing in his first 10k, Chebii finished eighth overall with a time of 29:55.80.
“Nickson continues to break out and I’m really excited for him,” Kindt said. “He had a great day and was very comfortable and relaxed. I think he’s poised to take another step forward next week at nationals.”
Kinnane crossed the line right after Chebii, coming in ninth (30:07.80).
“Ryan after what felt like every time we went to one of these meets last fall and spring, with him being the first guy to miss out at the national meet finally breaks the curse,” Kindt said. “I’m really happy that he gets to finish his career at Auburn at the national championship and I’m excited to get to watch him one more time.”
Sophomore Max Hardin and senior Caron Bedics claimed spots in the top 25. Hardin finished 22nd with a time of 30:41.20 while Bedics took 25th (30:47.80).
Senior Fuji Anday rounded out the top five for the Tigers, crossing the line in 32:08.00. Senior Hayden Judge had a PR-worthy performance (32:31.60) and senior Cooper Atkins was the final finisher in orange and blue (32:33.50).
“To be in this position where we have the opportunity to fight for one of these spots to go to nationals is an accomplishment in itself,” Kindt said. “This is not the day that we wanted, but I thought the guys at the front did a great job of putting ourselves in the meet. From where this program was year one, to where we are now in year four. A lot of credit to Ryan, Carson, and Cooper and the original guys that got this started.”
On the women’s side, Jepchirchir clocked a time of 20:16.00 in the 6k, finishing 11th overall. She led the Tigers for the fourth consecutive meet.
“Overall, solid day for the women,” Kindt said. “This is about where I had us plugged in as a group. Brenda was a little off today, but hopefully when the news comes out, we’ll have another shot at the national championships in a week.”
Following Jepchirchir was junior Gené Coetzee (20:19.00) and freshman Camila Gomes (21:10.20), who finished 14th and 63rd, respectively.
“Other highlight of the meet, I thought Gené had the best meet of her career at Auburn,” Kindt said. “She ran a sound race and the execution of her race plan with outstanding. The fight that she showed at the end. She’s one of the first people out individually at the national championships. Before the meet she was not ranked in the top 30, outstanding run from Gené.”
The senior duo of Hallie Porterfield (21:23.30) and Samantha Rogers (21:29.70) ran strong races, finishing in 70th and 71th place as the Tigers’ last two scorers.
Making her NCAA South Regional debut, freshman Alexandra Walsh crossed the line in 21:58.60 and sophomore Audrey Dunn ran a time of 22:16.30.
Eighteen teams automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships by finishing as one of the top two teams at any of the nine regional races. The NCAA Division I Cross Country Subcommittee will determine the remaining 13 at-large teams. Thirty-six individuals automatically qualify for the championship races by being one of the top four regional finishers not on an advancing team. Two additional individuals are selected at large by the committee.
In the South Regional, Alabama and Florida earned automatic NCAA berths on the women’s side, while Alabama and Ole Miss were automatic qualifiers on the men’s side.
Kinnane, Chebii and Jepchirchir will await their postseason fate until Saturday, November 16 at 4 p.m. when the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships field will be revealed via NCAA.com.
Up Next
The Tigers will travel to Verona, Wisconsin for the NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course on Saturday, Nov 23.
NCAA South Regional
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Women’s Team Results (6k)
- Auburn, 229 points
Women’s Individual Results
11. Brenda Jerpchirchir, 20:16.00
14. Gené Coetzee, 20:19.00
63. Camila Gomes, 21:10.20
70. Hallie Porterfield, 21:23.30
71. Samantha Rogers, 21:29.70
96. Alexandra Walsh, 21:58.60
114. Audrey Dunn, 22:16.30
Men’s Team Results (10k)
- Auburn, 143 points
Men’s Individual Results
- Nickson Chebii, 29:55.80
- Ryan Kinnane, 30:07.80
22. Max Hardin, 30:41.20
25. Carson Bedics, 30: 47.80
79. Fuji Anday, 32:08.00
95. Hayden Judge, 32:31.60