LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Led by a performance from sophomore Caleb Yoder, the Auburn University at Montgomery men's cross country team finished 10th in the 25th annual Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic on Saturday at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park.
Hosted by the Louisville Sports Commission, the Warhawks scored 313 points in a 24-team field, finishing ahead of 10 Division I programs.
Yoder paced AUM in the men's 8K, crossing the finish line 38th overall in 24:49.60. The sophomore's time marked the second-fastest 8K in program history, improving upon the 24:55.00 he ran at the Southern Showcase earlier this season, which had been the fourth-fastest mark in program history.
Yoder finished just 0.60 seconds behind the program record of 24:49.00.
Tyler Anthony followed with a 56th-place finish in 25:08.20, recording his fastest 8K at AUM and his best showing of the season. Junior Mikey Banks, a native of the United Kingdom, crossed 67th (25:16.70) for a season-best performance.
JT Mathison continued the Warhawks' strong showing in 86th at 25:27.00, recording a season-best time, while Brexton Hathaway rounded out AUM's scoring five in 89th at 25:31.20, also posting a season best. The Warhawks' five scorers averaged 25:14 for the race.
Competing in his fourth season with the Warhawks, senior Dalton Benefield was next across the line in 129th at 25:50.10. Liam Zadoorian followed in 187th place (26:34.70), improving upon his previous season-best mark of 26:36.80 from the Southern Showcase.
Senior Ethan Johnston posted a season-best 26:50.70 to finish 202nd, followed closely by Seth Grogan in 204th (26:54.30). Elliot Denard made his season debut for AUM with a 205th-place finish in 26:57.00.
Samuel Holmes added a season-best performance in 216th at 27:12.60, while Jimmy Jalowiec finished 223rd in 27:28.80. Freshman Landon Davenport, competing in his second meet for the Warhawks, improved his season-best time (27:57.30), nearly 22 seconds faster than his previous mark of 28:19.50.
Senior Josh Hill also made a significant jump, finishing 233rd in 27:59.40 after previously running 29:43.50 at the Southern Showcase. Junior Eli Holden, a Wetumpka, Alabama, native, made his season debut in 247th at 29:42.00, while Brodie Norred rounded out the AUM lineup in 248th at 29:49.70.
West Texas A&M claimed the team title with 36 points, while fellow Gulf South Conference member Lee finished second with 47 points. Union placed 15th with 414 points.
AUM also finished ahead of Division I programs Duquesne, Wright State, Xavier, Bellarmine, East Tennessee State, Morehead State, Evansville, South Florida, USC Upstate and Northern Kentucky.
Up Next
The Warhawks will close out the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 24, when they travel to Huntsville, Alabama, for the UAH DII Showcase. The men will take to the course at 8 a.m. for their final race before postseason competition.
Louisville Classic
E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
Men's 8k Gold
10. Auburn University at Montgomery (313 Points)
Individual Results
38. Caleb Yoder 24:49.60
56. Tyler Anthony 25:08.20
67. Mikey Banks 25:16.70
86. JT Mathison 25:27.00
89. Brexton Hathaway 25:31.20
129. Dalton Benefield 25:50.10
187. Liam Zadoorian 26:34.70
202. Ethan Johnston 26:50.70
204. Seth Grogan 26:54.30
205. Elliot Denard 26:57.00
216. Samuel Holmes 27:12.60
223. Jimmy Jalowiec 27:28.80
232. Landon Davenport 27:57.30
233. Josh Hill 27:59.40
247. Eli Holden 29:42.00
248. Brodie Norred 29:49.70
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