COLUMBIA, Mo. - Auburn sophomore Nickson Chebii capped an outstanding 2025 season with a collegiate-best performance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri.
Chebii finished 41st overall in the men’s 10k, crossing the line in 29:07.80. Competing in a field of 262, this marked his second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships as an individual qualifier.
“Nickson gave a great effort today, coming just short of our goal,” Auburn cross country coach Aaron Kindt said. “He did a really nice job moving his way up throughout the start and managing the conditions. He just ran out of gas at the very end, coming short of All-American status.”
The Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya, native put together a strong sophomore campaign. He earned SEC First Team honors after taking the silver medal at the conference championships and secured USTFCCCA All-Region recognition for the second year in a row with his third-place finish at the NCAA South Regional.
Chebii is the fourth Auburn man to qualify individually for the NCAA Championships, joining Brian Abshire (1984–85), Ty McCormack (2013–14) and Ryan Kinnane (2022 & 2024). He improved upon his performance at the 2024 NCAA Championships, where he finished 66th overall in 29:39.60.
“I’m very proud of the season he’s had and look forward to taking this momentum into the track season,” Kindt said.
Oklahoma State captured the men’s team title with 57 points, while North Carolina State won the women’s title with 114 points. Habtom Samuel of New Mexico and Alabama’s Doris Lemngole claimed the men’s and women’s individual titles, respectively.
NCAA Cross Country Championships
Gans Creek Cross Country Course
Columbia, Missouri
Men’s Individual Results (10k)
- Nickson Chebii, 29:07.80