MEN'S 8K RESULTS

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Basil Koech recorded the third-fastest 8K time in school history, took home Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year honors, and helped lead the Auburn University at Montgomery men's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at the 2023 GSC Championships.

Koech was named Second Team All-GSC thanks to his 15th-place finish and clocked a time of 24:54.20.

THE WARMUP

Finish: 5th out of 12 teams
Event: 2023 GSC Championships
Location: Huntsville, Ala. | John Hunt Park
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SCORING FIVE

• Koech ran a new collegiate-best time of 24:54.20 and finished 15th overall.
• Connor Stoots finished 30th overall and turned in a time of 25:59.30.
• Dalton Benefield was the third AUM finisher across the line in 26:19.40 and finished in 38th place. 
• The Warhawks got a 26:24.20 from Mark Foster as he placed fourth on the squad and 41st overall.
• Patrick Pigg was AUM's fifth runner to score points and raced to a time of 26:29.70.

NOTABLES

• Koech's Freshman of the Year honor is the first in program history for the men's cross country team. 
• Patrick Pigg finished less than three seconds off his collegiate-best 8K time. 
• Sam Leslie nearly re-set his collegiate-best time as he finished two-tenths of a second off his previous personal record. Jay Hughes also finished just three-tenths of a second from his top collegiate time.
• Joshua Hill also added a personal best time of 27:19.40.
• Koech earned the program's first Freshman of the Year award and also earned the program's fourth All-GSC honor. 
• Koech now has the first, third, fourth, and ninth fastest 8K times in school history. 

• "We were just a little bit off on the men's side this morning," said head coach Ryan Thompson. "Getting knocked out of fourth place by one point was a little bit of a blow to the stomach. Fourth is the highest they have ever finished at the GSC Championships, and we felt like we had that today but hats off to Christian Brothers. It is a huge accomplishment for Basil to pick up Freshman of the Year honors. Now both of our teams have 24 hours to soak up today, and then we turn our attention to regionals. I am glad we are finally in a position where we show up to the conference meet expecting to compete for a top-five spot."

UP NEXT

The Warhawks prep for the NCAA South Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 4, hosted by the University of Montevallo.

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