OXFORD, Ala. -- Auburn University at Montgomery freshman cross country runner Basil Koech set a new school record, and the Warhawks throttled to second place overall at the 2023 Foothills Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville State University.

Koech, who covered the 5k course in 15:39.60 and finished eighth overall, broke the school 5k record by 15 seconds in his debut race. Additionally, the Warhawks re-wrote six of the top seven spots in the 5k record book to open the year.

THE WARMUP

Finish: 2nd out of 28 teams
Event: Foothills Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville State Univ.
Location: Oxford, Ala. | Choccolocco Park
Get Social: Twitter - @AUMWarhawksXC | Instagram - @AUM_XC

SCORING FIVE

• Koech placed eighth with his 15:39.60.
• Freshman Dalton Benefield also turned in a strong showing in his first collegiate race, as his time of 15:49.90 was also good enough to beat the former school record 5k mark. Benefield finished 11th overall.
• Connor Stoots was the third Warhawk across the line in 15th place with a 5k time of 16:00.70.
• Transfer Mark Foster was a tick behind Stoots, as he clocked a 16:00.90 and a 15th-place finish. 
• Hayes Colvin rounded out the AUM scoring five with a 16:25.60 5k time and placed 42nd overall in a field of 200 runners.

NOTABLES

• 11 of the top 15 finishers in the race were from either Auburn University or Auburn University at Montgomery.
• Koech's school record took down the previous mark (15:54.60) run by Josh Escoe in 2017 at the Jacksonville State Struts Invitational.
• Freshman Dalton Benefield now owns the second-best 5k mark in program history after a strong start to his season.
• The Warhwks re-wrote six of the top seven spots on the 5k performance list, as Stoots (fourth), Foster (fifth), Colvin (sixth), and Brady Thomas (seventh, 16:31.20) all raced into the record book.

WORDS FROM THE WARHAWKS

"We had a really great opener on both sides for our teams," said head coach Ryan Thompson. "I think our men are really starting to understand what it means to compete as a team. We are still going to work at moving our No. 5 and No. 6 runners up to help us close the gap with our top four, and if we can accomplish that, it could be a special year for this group. But, we know it's only one race, so we have to keep working hard because a lot can happen between now and October 21st."

UP NEXT

The Warhawks travel to John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. on Friday, September 15 for the Southern Showcase, hosted by Jacksonville State University.
   
For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.