TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Auburn’s cross country team showcased their talent at the NCAA South Regional held at the scenic Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, achieving a remarkable feat with four athletes securing top 15 individual finishes. This success was fueled by stellar performances from freshmen Brenda Jepchirchir and Nickson Chebii, alongside sophomore Max Hardin, junior Gene Coetzee, and the senior duo of Ryan Kinnane and Carson Bedics, all earning All-Region accolades.
Following a commendable fifth-place finish in the highly competitive 10k race, both Chebii and Kinnane are now on track to qualify as individual contenders for the NCAA Championships. Notably, Kinnane marked his inaugural qualification for the NCAA Cross Country Championships back in 2022 after a strong seventh-place finish at that year’s South Regional, underscoring his growth and resilience.
The performances from both the men’s and women’s teams were impressive, with the men securing a fifth-place finish while the women came in eighth overall. This marks the men’s second top-five finish in the past three years at this regional meet, coupled with their lowest point total at regionals since 2014. On the women’s side, this achievement represents their best team finish at regionals since 2017, highlighting the depth of talent within the program.
“It was a bittersweet day,” reflected Auburn’s cross country coach Aaron Kindt. “I thought our top four guys had phenomenal days. They put us in a great position to be one of the top two teams at the meet. We just couldn’t keep it together in the five, six, seven spots and I know those guys are disappointed and a little bit heartbroken.”
Leading the way for the men as they have throughout the season were Chebii and Kinnane. In his first-ever 10k, Chebii made a remarkable debut, finishing eighth overall with an impressive time of 29:55.80.
“Nickson continues to break out and I’m really excited for him,” expressed Kindt. “He had a great day and was very comfortable and relaxed. I think he’s poised to take another step forward next week at nationals.”
Kinnane closely followed Chebii, finishing ninth at 30:07.80.
“Ryan, after feeling like he narrowly missed out on national meets throughout the previous fall and spring seasons, finally breaks the curse,” Kindt proudly stated. “I’m thrilled that he gets to conclude his Auburn career at the national championship, and I can’t wait to watch him compete one last time.”
Sophomore Max Hardin and senior Carson Bedics also shined, finishing within the top 25—Hardin took 22nd with a time of 30:41.20, while Bedics finished 25th at 30:47.80.
Completing the men’s scoring lineup was senior Fuji Anday, who finished in 32:08.00. Senior Hayden Judge delivered a personal record performance, clocking in at 32:31.60, and senior Cooper Atkins completed the race for the Tigers, finishing at 32:33.50.
“To now be in this position where we have the opportunity to fight for one of these spots to go to nationals is an accomplishment in itself,” Kindt noted. “This is not the day that we wanted, but I thought the guys at the front did an admirable job of placing ourselves competitively. Reflecting on where this program stood in year one compared to now in year four, we owe a lot of credit to Ryan, Carson, and Cooper, along with the pioneering athletes who laid the groundwork.”
On the women’s front, Jepchirchir clocked an impressive 20:16.00 in the 6k event, securing an 11th-place finish and leading the Tigers for the fourth consecutive meet—a testament to her consistency and competitive edge.
“Overall, a solid day for the women,” Kindt assessed. “This aligns closely with my expectations for the group. Brenda was a little off today, but I’m hopeful that when the news comes out, we’ll have another opportunity to compete at the national championships in a week.”
Following Jepchirchir were junior Gené Coetzee, who finished 14th with a time of 20:19.00, and freshman Camila Gomes, who placed 63rd with a finish of 21:10.20.
“Another highlight of the meet was Gené; she had the best performance of her Auburn career,” Kindt praised. “She executed her race plan with exceptional skill and showed tremendous determination towards the end. She’s poised to be among the first athletes individually qualifying for the national championships. Prior to this meet, she was not ranked in the top 30, making her performance even more remarkable.”
The senior pair of Hallie Porterfield and Samantha Rogers ran commendably, finishing 70th and 71st respectively with times of 21:23.30 and 21:29.70 as the Tigers’ final two scorers.
Making her NCAA South Regional debut, freshman Alexandra Walsh crossed the line at 21:58.60, and sophomore Audrey Dunn clocked a time of 22:16.30.
Eighteen teams secure automatic qualification for the NCAA Championships by finishing as one of the top two teams at any of the nine regional races. The NCAA Division I Cross Country Subcommittee will then determine the remaining 13 at-large teams. Additionally, 36 individuals automatically qualify for the championship races by being among the top four regional finishers not on an advancing team, with two further individuals selected by the committee at-large.
In the South Regional, Alabama and Florida earned automatic NCAA berths for the women, while Alabama and Ole Miss qualified on the men’s side.
Kinnane, Chebii, and Jepchirchir will await their postseason fate until Saturday, November 16 at 4 p.m. when the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships field will be announced via NCAA.com.
Up Next
The Tigers are gearing up to travel to Verona, Wisconsin for the prestigious NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course on Saturday, Nov 23.
NCAA South Regional
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Women’s Team Results (6k)
- Auburn, 229 points
Women’s Individual Results
- Brenda Jepchirchir, 20:16.00
- Gené Coetzee, 20:19.00
- Camila Gomes, 21:10.20
- Hallie Porterfield, 21:23.30
- Samantha Rogers, 21:29.70
- Alexandra Walsh, 21:58.60
- Audrey Dunn, 22:16.30
Men’s Team Results (10k)
- Auburn, 143 points
Men’s Individual Results
- Nickson Chebii, 29:55.80
- Ryan Kinnane, 30:07.80
- Max Hardin, 30:41.20
- Carson Bedics, 30:47.80
- Fuji Anday, 32:08.00
- Hayden Judge, 32:31.60
What strategies has Coach Aaron Kindt implemented to improve the performance of the Auburn Cross Country teams over the years?
**Interview with Auburn Cross Country Coach Aaron Kindt**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Coach Kindt. Congratulations on the team’s impressive performance at the NCAA South Regional! How would you assess the overall performance of both the men’s and women’s teams?
**Aaron Kindt:** Thank you! It was indeed a bittersweet day for us. Our men finished fifth, which is their second top-five finish in three years at this regional meet, and the lowest point total for us since 2014. The women’s team placed eighth, marking their best finish since 2017. This demonstrates the depth and potential within our program.
**Editor:** Freshmen Brenda Jepchirchir and Nickson Chebii had standout performances. Can you tell us more about their races?
**Aaron Kindt:** Absolutely. Nickson had an incredible debut in the 10k, finishing eighth overall with a time of 29:55.80. He was relaxed and comfortable throughout, and I believe he’s ready to make even more strides at the national championships. As for Brenda, she led the women again with an 11th-place finish. While she felt a bit off today, her consistency has been impressive all season.
**Editor:** Ryan Kinnane’s journey has been quite remarkable as well. Can you discuss his progress and what qualifying for the NCAA championships means for him?
**Aaron Kindt:** Ryan is a testament to resilience. After narrowly missing national meets before, this marks his first qualification for the NCAA Cross Country Championships after finishing ninth in Tallahassee. It’s a proud moment for him and a great way to conclude his Auburn career. I’m excited for what he will achieve at nationals.
**Editor:** The team dynamic has clearly evolved over the years. What do you attribute this growth to?
**Aaron Kindt:** We’ve built a stronger foundation since my first year here. Credit goes to our veteran athletes like Ryan, Carson, and Cooper, who have helped lay the groundwork. Their leadership paired with the emerging talent has created a competitive environment that fosters growth and ambition.
**Editor:** As you await the postseason announcements, what are your expectations for Kinnane, Chebii, and Jepchirchir?
**Aaron Kindt:** I’m hopeful they’ll receive the opportunity to compete at the national championships. Their performances at regionals put them in contention. The support from our program has never been stronger, and I can’t wait to see how they can shine on that big stage.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Kindt, for your insights and for sharing the team’s journey with us. We wish Auburn Cross Country the best of luck as they look ahead to the championships.
**Aaron Kindt:** Thank you! We appreciate the support.
