HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Auburn cross country continued its 2026 season Friday at the Southern Showcase at John Hunt Cross Country Running Park in Huntsville as the Tiger women finished third while the men placed seventh as a team.
Freshman Faith Chelangat continued her strong start to the season, finishing runner-up in the women’s 5k with a time of 15:50.2. Chelangat, who won the individual title at Auburn’s season-opening JSU Foothills Invitational and was named SEC Women’s Runner of the Week for her efforts, was nine seconds behind Alabama sophomore Caren Kiplagat who won in 15:41.4.
The Tigers finished third in the women’s team standings with 99 points, behind Alabama (28) and Clemson (69). Auburn placed five runners among the top 35 finishers.
Sophomore MacKenzie Roy led off Auburn’s remaining scorers, finishing 18th overall in 17:13.2. Senior Audrey Dunn followed in 20th at 17:16.7, while Arianna Roy placed 25th in 17:23.3. Freshman Purity Chepkemoi rounded out Auburn’s scoring five with a 35th-place finish in 17:37.1.
On the men’s side, senior Max Hardin paced Auburn with a 10th-place finish in the 8k, clocking 24:05.8. Hardin opened the season with an individual victory at the JSU Foothills Invitational and continued his strong start to the season on Friday morning.
Junior Bryce McCleary made his Auburn cross country debut, finishing 21st overall in 24:24.8. Junior Joshua Kosgei was 28th in 24:37.1, while senior Evan Hill placed 50th in 25:06.9 and junior Clayton Collins finished 148th in 26:06.2 to round out Auburn’s scoring.
The Tigers will return to action on Friday, Oct. 16 at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa at the Harry Pritchett Running Park.
SOUTHERN SHOWCASE
FRIDAY, SEPT. 18, 2026
HUNTSVILLE, AL
JOHN HUNT CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING PARK
WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS
- Alabama 28 pts.
- Clemson 69 pts.
- AUBURN 99 pts.
- Mercer 151 pts.
- Mississippi State 163 pts.
AUBURN INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (5k)
- Faith Chelangat 15:50.2
- Mackenzie Roy 17:13.2
- Audrey Dunn 17:16.7
- Arianna Roy 17:23.3
- Purity Chepkemoi 17:37.1
- Cady McPhail 17:47.8
- Mary Mac Collins 17:55.9
- Ava Fields 18:14.6
- Olivia Stedl 18:17.7
- Alexandra Walsh 18:19.7
- Addison Boyer 18:27.0
- Kennedy Hamilton 18:56.8
MEN’S TEAM RESULTS
- Alabama 15 pts.
- App State 118 pts.
- Georgia Tech 124 pts.
- Clemson 169 pts.
- Cumberlands 194 pts.
- Jacksonville State 212 pts.
- AUBURN 227 pts.
AUBURN INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (8k)
- Max Hardin 24:05.8
- Bryce McCleary 24:24.8
- Joshua Kosgei 24:37.1
- Evan Hill 25:06.9
- Clayton Collins 26:06.2
- Ian Chatterton 27:04.0