AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn cross country teams open the 2025 season at the Foothill Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville State, on Friday, Aug. 29. The meet will take place at the Choccolocco Park Sports Complex in Oxford, Alabama, with the men running the 5k at 5:30 p.m. CT and the women racing at 6:15 p.m. CT in the 5k as well.
Under the leadership of fifth-year distance coach Aaron Kindt, the Tigers look to continue building off the success they had last season.
The last time the Tigers competed at the JSU Foothills Invite, the men and women captured team victories.
“This is one where we focus a lot on our newcomers,” Kindt said. “We give them a chance to put on the uniform, go through travel and get the butterflies out. It gives us a sense of when the lights turn on, what do they do?”
A total of six men will be competing in orange and blue, with a chance to face off against 21 other squads, including Alabama State, Faulkner, Samford and Troy. They enter the season ranked ninth in the South Region in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason rankings.
Kindt plans to utilize the experience of seasoned runners such as sophomore Nickson Chebii and junior Max Hardin to lead the men’s squad.
“We're excited about those two,” Kindt said. “Nickson and Max have come back in fantastic shape. They’re going to be our heavy hitters on the track, so we’re just trying to make sure that we have them ready for the right time this fall ... those are two guys we’ll really count on.”
Chebbi and Hardin are coming off exceptional cross country seasons from last year. The duo earned USTFCCCA All-Region status at the NCAA South Regional. Chebii finished the 10k eighth overall (29:55.80) and Hardin took 22nd (30:41.20). Chebii went on to race at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, running the best 10k of his collegiate career, finishing 66th (29:39.60).
On the women’s side, Kindt is looking toward senior Gené Coetzee and sophomore Camila Gomes to serve in the leadership role on the women's side.
“We return Gené and Camila,” Kindt said. “Those two came off exceptional breakout track seasons. We’re looking to those two on both sides to lead those groups this fall.”
Last season, Coetzee placed 14th at the NCAA South Regional last season in the 6k (20:19.00), also earning All-Region honors.
The women will have eight runners going toe-to-toe against 21 teams, including Alabama State, Troy, UAB and West Georgia. The women were ranked eighth in the South Region USTFCCCA preseason rankings.
Included in those eight competing is junior Mary Mac Collins, who won the women’s race last time the squad raced at the Foothills Invite.
“We’re excited to get out there,” Kindt said. “This will be an opportunity for our younger runners to step into some different roles and see how they handle them.”
The spotlight will be on the three newcomers who are looking to make their debut in orange and blue.
Live results can be found at xpresstiming.com.
Up Next
Auburn cross country travels to Huntsville, Alabama, to compete in the Southern Showcase at the John Hunt Cross Country Running Park on Sept. 12.