MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery cross country teams remain among the top teams in the NCAA Division II South Region, with the men's team holding at No. 6 and the women's team ranked No. 8 in the latest rankings announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Men's Cross Country Ranked No. 6 in South Region
The Auburn University at Montgomery men's cross country team remains No. 6 in the latest NCAA Division II South Region rankings, matching the highest regional ranking in program history for the second consecutive week. The Warhawks continued to build on their strong start to the season with a 10th-place finish at the 25th annual Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic.
AUM scored 313 points in a 24-team field at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park, finishing ahead of 10 Division I programs. The Warhawks also finished behind only Gulf South Conference opponent Lee.
Sophomore Caleb Yoder once again paced the Warhawks, posting one of the strongest performances in program history. Yoder finished 38th overall in the men's 8K with a time of 24:49.60, improving his previous mark of 24:55.00 from the Southern Showcase and moving to No. 2 on AUM's all-time 8K list. His time came just 0.60 seconds shy of the program record of 24:49.00.
Tyler Anthony followed in 56th at 25:08.20, recording his fastest 8K at AUM, while junior Mikey Banks posted a season-best 25:16.70 to finish 67th. JT Mathison added a season-best 25:27.00 in 86th, and Brexton Hathaway rounded out the scoring five in 89th at 25:31.20. The Warhawks' five scoring runners averaged 25:14 for the race.
The Louisville Classic performance continued a strong stretch for AUM, which previously finished 13th at the Southern Showcase while placing second among Division II teams and ahead of 12 Division I programs. Yoder also set a personal best of 24:55.00 at that meet, giving the sophomore two of the fastest 8K performances in program history so far this season.
Women's Cross Country Ranked No. 8 in South Region
The Auburn University at Montgomery women's cross country team is ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA Division II South Region rankings after previously reaching No. 7, matching the highest regional ranking in program history. The Warhawks most recently placed 20th at the 25th annual Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic, scoring 498 points in a 24-team field.
AUM posted a team average of 19:14 in the women's 5K Gold race, finishing ahead of Division I program USC Upstate. Junior Chloe Helms once again led the Warhawks, placing 45th overall in 18:24.30. Coming off her individual victory at the Montevallo Falcon Classic, Helms recorded the third-fastest 5K in program history, finishing just 3.10 seconds behind her personal-best 18:21.20, which ranks second all-time at AUM.
Freshman Lena Parker followed in 101st at 19:08.60, recording her second-fastest time of the season and finishing as AUM's second runner for the second time this season. Fellow freshman Natalie Wiram crossed in 121st at 19:21.10, posting the second-fastest 5K of her collegiate career.
Emma McGee finished 127th in 19:26.00, while freshman Laila Cooper rounded out the scoring five in 173rd at 19:54.10. Cooper competed in her third collegiate meet, continuing a strong opening stretch for the Warhawks' freshman class.
The Louisville Classic followed a strong opening to the season for AUM, which captured the team title at the Montevallo Falcon Classic with 27 points. The Warhawks placed all five scoring runners inside the top 10 at the meet, led by Helms' individual victory in 18:21.20. The team title marked AUM's second victory since moving to the NCAA Division II level and the program's first team win since 2021.
Up Next
The Warhawks will travel to Florence, Alabama to compete in the Kennemer Classic hosted by North Alabama on Friday, October 16.
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