OXFORD, Ala. – The Auburn cross country program started the 2026 season in strong fashion at the JSU Foothills Invitational Friday as the women won the team title while freshman Faith Chelangat and senior Max Hardin won the women’s and men’s individual 5k titles.
Competing in her first collegiate race, Chelangat won convincingly, finishing the 5k race in 16:10.7 to win by nearly a minute over Jacksonville State’s Mercy Sergon, who was second in 17:08.7.
The Tigers, who repeated as team champions after winning a year ago, had six of the top 10 finishers on the women’s side to easily win the team title with 25 points. Host Jacksonville State was second with 43 points.
Sophomore MacKenzie Roy making her AU cross country debut, was fourth overall in 17:40.0, while senior Audrey Dunn was fifth crossing the finish line in 17:41.1. Auburn’s strong team effort was rounded out by Arianna Roy(17:41.1), Arianna Roy (17:50.8) and Cady McPhail (18:03.3) who finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
Hardin, who finished second at the Foothills Invite as a freshman and junior, won his first collegiate cross country race outdistancing JSU’s Shadrack Kipkurgat by two seconds with a victorious time of 15:02.4. The Auburn native is the second Tiger in as many years to win the men’s individual title, joining Rex Green who won in 2025.
Senior Evan Hill delivered a top 10 performance, finishing eighth in 15:27.2. Junior Joshua Kosgei took 18th place in 15:51.9, while newcomers Clayton Collins (15:57.5) and Ian Chatterton (16:35.7) were 22nd and 44th, respectively.
The Tigers will return to action on September 18 at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville at the John Hunt Cross Country Running Park.
JSU FOOTHILLS INVITATIONAL
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4, 2026
OXFORD, AL
CHOCCOLOCCO SPORTS PARK
WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS
1. AUBURN 25 pts. 1-4-5-7-8-(10)-(14)
2. Jacksonville State 43 pts. 2-3-9-12-17-(18)-(19)
3. UAB 106 pts. 6-16-20-24-40-(80)
4. Samford 116 pts. 11-13-21-32-39-(43)
5. West Florida 136 pts. 15-23-29-33-36-(48)-(50)
AUBURN INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (5k)
1. Faith Chelangat 16:10.7
4. Mackenzie Roy 17:40.0
5. Audrey Dunn 17:41.1
7. Arianna Roy 17:50.8
8. Cady McPhail 18:03.3
10. Olivia Stedl 18:11.0
14. Mary Mac Collins 18:21.6
16. Ava Fields 18:29.5
17. Alexandra Walsh 18:37.2
30. Addison Boyer 19:14.4
37. Kennedy Hamilton 19:41.8
MEN’S TEAM RESULTS
1. Jacksonville State 21 pts. 2-3-4-5-7-(10)-(11)
2. AUBURN 82 pts. 1-8-15-19-39
3. Samford 101 pts. 12-16-21-25-27-(29)-(32)
4. UT Southern 111 pts. 6-9-28-33-35-(48)-(54)
5. Troy 122 pts. 13-17-20-30-42-(44)-(64)
AUBURN INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (5k)
1. Max Hardin 15:02.4
8. Evan Hill 15:27.2
18. Joshua Kosgei 15:51.9
22. Clayton Collins 15:57.5
44. Ian Chatterton 16:35.7