AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn cross country standout Nickson Chebii is set to represent the Tigers at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri, on Saturday at 10:10 a.m. CT. Chebii will race in the men’s 10k on the Gans Creek Cross Country Course.
“You can see the confidence growing every day,” Auburn cross country coach Aaron Kindt said. “This year he’s come in with a plan, and he knows what he’s capable of. Being able to see him being more comfortable as well as his talent and fitness come together this fall has been a big deal for him.”
This marks Chebii’s second straight trip to the NCAA Championships. He is the fourth Auburn man to qualify for two NCAA Championships as an individual, joining Ryan Kinnane (2022 & 2024), Ty McCormack (2013-14), and Brian Abshire (1984-85).
Auburn cross country has qualified at least one man or woman for the NCAA Championships in four of the last five seasons.
Chebii secured one of the south region’s automatic individual qualifying spots for nationals after clocking a personal best in the men’s 10k (29:13.47) on the John Hunt Cross Country Course in Huntsville, Alabama.
"He was excited after the race,” Kindt said, “but he knew some big things were coming. We’re both looking forward to what he can do this weekend.”
Chebii competed at the 2024 NCAA Championships, where he finished 66th overall with 29:39.60.
In his second cross country campaign, Chebii has earned USTFCCCA All-Region status for the second year in a row. He was named to the SEC Men’s First Team after his silver-medal performance at the conference championships in the men’s 8k (23:11.57).
Chebii is no stranger to Gans Creek, having raced the course at the Gans Creek Classic last season, when he finished 20th overall and helped lead the Auburn men to a third-place finish.
Chebii is no stranger to the course, having raced at the Gans Creek Classic last season, where he finished 20th overall and helped lead the Auburn men to a third-place team finish.
“He’s done a great job this year,” Kindt said. “It was a big goal for both of us to get him back here. He’s going to be all business this trip.”
The 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships men’s field includes scoring and non-scoring teams, including runners from No. 2 Iowa State, No. 5 Virginia, No. 8 Alabama, No. 7 Colorado, No. 22 Arkansas and No. 25 Ole Miss.
The event will be live streamed on ESPNU, and live results can be found on pttiming.com.