The Auburn cross country teams will open their 2025 season on Friday, Aug. 29. They will compete at the JSU Foothills Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville State at Choccolocco Park. This will be the season debut for both teams and will provide a first look at how each team’s summer training has carried over into competition.
The Tigers enter this season with confidence after making program history in 2024. Auburn had three individual runners qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, which marked the most in school history. On the men’s side, sophomore Nickson Chebii returns after his NCAA appearance last fall. Chebii finished with a 29:39.6 in the championships. Another notable mention is junior Max Hardin, who earned USTFCCCA All-Region status in 2024 in addition to a time of 30:41.20 in the 10K, placing 22nd overall at the NCAA South Region Championship. He will be supported by veteran teammates Rex Green, Joseph Perry, Evan Hill and Davis Plowden, with freshman Bryce McCleary adding new depth to the lineup.
On the women’s side, Auburn returns a balanced lineup led by Shelby Balding, who ran a season-best 21:06 6K at the SEC Championships. Cady McPhail adds more strength to the roster after posting a 20:50 6K at the NCAA South Regional, while Hannah Thuss provides consistency with a 17:19 5K performance on the track. The Tigers also feature experienced returners such as Gené Coetzee, Addison Boyer, Mary Mac Collins, Audrey Dunn, Camila Gomes, Hailey Howard, Hailey Hamilton, Arianna Roy and Mackenzie Roy, along with newcomer Alexandra Walsh, giving Auburn both reliable scorers and developing talent across the roster.
Jacksonville State brings back an experienced roster of its own. Senior Jack Lowe and sophomore Meshack Kosgei anchor the men’s team. The women’s squad is led by senior Lindsay Fletcher, joined by Rudi Barnette, Olivia King and Maddyn Conn. The Gamecocks were strong on their home course last fall. The men’s team won the Foothills Invitational title, while the women finished second overall behind only Samford. Those results showcased Jacksonville State’s ability to run in tight packs throughout the meet, a strength that could keep the team race close again this year.
The course at Choccolocco Park features rolling hills and open stretches that reward teams with both front-runners and solid pack running. The course width averages 10 meters throughout and has minimal turns, making it an ideal course for competitors. Cut-through trails allow coaches and fans to access most parts of the course. For Auburn, the key will be leveraging national-level experience from Chebii and Hardin while testing the depth of its women’s lineup. For Jacksonville State, the focus will be on defending last year’s home-course success and challenging Auburn’s depth. The invitational will be well-matched and an interesting start to the 2025 season.
Racing begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. CST at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., with the women’s race leading off the JSU Foothills Invitational. The men’s race will follow, closing out the Tigers’ season opener.
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