Aggies Secure Pair of Sixth-Place Finishes at SEC Championships

Friday, October 31

Knoxville, Tenn.

9:00 AM

Texas A&M

SEC Championships

Oct 31, 2025 | Cross Country

By: Holley Rodriguez, Athletics Communications

KNOXVILLE – The Texas A&M cross country team earned a pair of sixth-place finishes at the SEC Championships Friday morning at the Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course.

The Aggies captured their fourth-straight season with top-10 finishes on the men and women's sides at the conference championships, securing two sixth-place results. Three individuals earned All-SEC Third Team honors for their performances, as Jack Johnston topped the men and secured 20^th, while Joyce Kemboi and Debora Cherono claimed 16^th and 17^th, respectively.

Johnston paced the men's group with a time of 23:52.72 which was good for 20^th. He was followed by Cooper Cawthra in 23^rd (24:02.35), Youssef Asslouj in 36^th (24:17.26), Victor Kibiego in 39^th (24:21.32) and Carter Gordy in 45^th (24:24.01).

"The men had just an okay day today," distance coach Wendel McRaven said. "We moved up from eighth last year, but I think we are capable of more. They are leaving the meet with a little bit of a bitter taste in their mouth and hungry to make amends at the regional meet. Jack [Johnston] ran well, and Carter [Gordy] did a solid job as our number five."

On the women's side they were led by Kemboi in 16^th (20:29.20) and Cherono in 17^th (20:31.36). The duo was followed by Megan Roberts in 28^th (20:50.16), Sophia Bendet in 55^th (21:23.66) and Elise Smoot in 62^nd (21:35.34).

"I'm happy with the women's result," McRaven continued. "We were three points out of fifth and sixteen points out of fourth. This is the toughest women's cross country conference in the country. They are knocking on the door to earn a trip to nationals. Joyce [Kemboi] and Debora [Cherono] did a great job of leading the charge and Megan [Roberts] wasn't too far back. Excited to head to Fayetteville in two weeks for the regional."

Team Results
Alabama won the men's event with 64 points, they were followed by Georgia (123), Oklahoma (126), Arkansas (131), Missouri (145), Texas A&M (163), Texas (172), Kentucky (181), Tennessee (188), Ole Miss (190), Florida (199), Auburn (320), LSU (380) and Vanderbilt (394).

Florida won the women's event with 45 points they were followed by Alabama (117), South Carolina (130), LSU (159), Missouri (172), Texas A&M (175), Tennessee (192), Kentucky (193), Mississippi State (243), Vanderbilt (262), Ole Miss (287), Oklahoma (287), Texas (297), Arkansas (321), Georgia (388) and Auburn (404).

Season Record
Men's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1^st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1^st – 12-0
Paul Short Run – 3^rd – 37-2
Arturo Barrios Invitational – 1^st – 34-0
SEC Championships – 6^th – 8-5

Women's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1^st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 13-0
Paul Short Run – 4^th – 36-3
Arturo Barrios Invitational – 3^rd – 34-2
SEC Championships – 6^th – 10-5

To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, head to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.