'He's the voice of our team': Auburn's 'Flyin' Ryan' Kinnane

AUBURN, Ala. – Before Auburn recruited Ryan Kinnane, he recruited Auburn.

Interested in studying aviation, the Kansas high schooler’s cross country times were not up to SEC standards until one fateful – and freezing – day in South Dakota.

“Twenty degrees. It was snowing sideways, 20 miles per hour wind,” recalled Kinnane. “I got third place, PR’d by 30 seconds and made nationals. After that, I emailed Auburn and they were like, “Yeah, we like to have you visit.’ Turned out to be a great decision.”

Ryan’s path to the Plains was formed.

“If it weren’t for that race and that kind of weather, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

Fast forward five years, Kinnane’s Auburn career concludes Saturday at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wisconsin, with temperatures expected to be in the mid-30s.

“I think I run better the colder it is,” said Kinnane, the third Auburn male to qualify individually for two NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Between his breakout race in South Dakota and Saturday’s finale, Kinnane maximized his Auburn opportunity, being named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year three consecutive years.

“I’m grateful,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m the most deserving person in the SEC for that award but I’m thankful somebody thinks I am.”

“It’s been a lot of fun to watch him grow,” Auburn cross country coach Aaron Kindt said. “Not just what he does on the track, but he’s become a leader. He’s the voice of our team and that’s been special to watch.”

When he crosses the finish line Saturday, Kinnane will begin racing toward his next goals: completing his Harbert College of Business MBA, marrying his high school sweetheart in Wichita in March, completing his commercial pilot’s license and becoming a flight instructor.

“It’s really special to end it on a season when I finally made it back,” said Kinnane, who finished 89^th two years ago and who hopes to be among the top 75 runners near the start of the race before moving up. “it’s a different ballgame with these guys because there are several Olympians there and a lot of world-class runners.”

“Flyin’ Ryan’” won’t be the only runner wearing orange and blue at NCAAs.

Freshman teammates and Kenya natives Nickson Chebii and Brenda Jepchirchir have also qualified for nationals, the first time Auburn has had three individual qualifiers at the same championship.

“It’s been great having somebody else up there to run and strategize with,” Kinnane said. “He’s definitely going to be the leader going forward in cross.”

“It’s so nice having a teammate and running together,” said Chebii, the first Auburn freshman male to race at NCAAs since 2008. “When you see your friend is pushing, you have to push.”

Chebii has adjusted quickly to being so far from home.

“You build a relationship with your coach and teammates,” Chebii said. “We have nice teammates. I love them.”

“I didn’t expect to because to come and adapt to the climate was not easy,” said Jepchirchir, the first Auburn freshman woman to qualify for nationals since 2017.

“Brenda is a huge competitor,” Kindt said. “From day one, she showed she’s not afraid of hard work. She’s a special talent who will be fun to watch in coming years.

“All three have done a great job all year of training but it takes a little bit extra, mentally and emotionally, to get to this stage. To be in the shape they’re in, you have to be mentally strong.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer