HUNTSVILLE, AL - The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks men's cross country team placed 13th overall at the 2026 Southern Showcase on Friday morning at John Hunt Cross Country Running Park, scoring 440 points in a field of 29 teams and 302 individual runners.
COACH THOMPSON'S COMMENTS
"It was a fantastic opener for the men. It was a really good race to build off of for the rest of the season, and I think we proved that we belonged in the invitational race."
HOW IT HAPPENED
AUM was the second Division II team to finish, trailing only Gulf South Conference foe Lee University, while also placing ahead of twelve Division I programs including North Alabama, Mercer, South Alabama, Samford, West Georgia, and West Florida.
Sophomore Caleb Yoder led the Warhawks with a standout performance in the men's 8K, finishing 40th overall with a personal-best time of 24:55.00, shaving 7.9 seconds off his previous best time of 25:02.90. Yoder's mark ranks as the fourth-fastest 8K in program history and made him the second Division II finisher in the race, behind Lee's Kylian Boulanger.
Yoder's 24:55.00 also gave AUM an early push at the front of its lineup, finishing nearly twenty seconds ahead of Tyler Anthony. Anthony placed 63rd overall in 25:15.70, recording his fastest 8K at AUM.
Mikey Banks followed in 86th at 25:28.70, posting the second-fastest 8K of his collegiate career. JT Mathison, competing in his second season with the Warhawks, finished 155th in 26:11.80 for the second-fastest 8K of his collegiate career as well.
Brexton Hathaway rounded out AUM's scoring five, placing 165th overall with a time of 26:18.60. From Yoder's 24:55.00 at the front of the lineup to Hathaway's 26:18.60, the Warhawks' five scoring runners were separated by just 1:23.60.
Dalton Benefield followed in 174th place (26:24.90), with Liam Zadoorian crossing in 190th at 26:36.80. Ethan Johnston came through in 217th (26:57.90), recording the second-fastest 8K of his collegiate career at AUM. Seth Grogan finished 250th in 27:31.10, while Landon Davenport made his collegiate debut with a 282nd-place finish (28:19.50).
Samuel Holmes was next across the line in 284th (28:21.80), followed by Jimmy Jalowiec in 294th (29:02.00). Josh Hill posted a 29:43.50 to finish 297th, while Brodie Norred rounded out the Warhawks' lineup in 301st with a time of 31:01.60.
Alabama claimed the team title with 15 points, while Lee finished 11th with 299 points to lead the Division II field. AUM followed in 13th, with fellow GSC member Mississippi Christian placing 15th.
2026 Southern Showcase
John Hunt Cross Country Running Park
Men's 8k
13. Auburn University at Montgomery (440 Points)
Individual Results
40. Caleb Yoder 24:55.00
63. Tyler Anthony 25:15.70
86. Mikey Banks 25:28.70
155. JT Mathison 26:11.80
165. Brexton Hathaway 26:18.60
174. Dalton Benefield 26:24.90
190. Liam Zadoorian 26:36.80
217. Ethan Johnston 26:57.90
250. Seth Grogan 27:31.10
282. Landon Davenport 28:19.50
284. Samuel Holmes 28:21.80
294. Jimmy Jalowiec 29:02.00
297. Josh Hill 29:43.50
301. Brodie Norred 31:01.60
Up Next
The Warhawks will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the men's and women's teams travel to Louisville, Kentucky, for the 25th annual Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park. Race times will be announced closer to the event.
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