Razorbacks fourth in SEC Championship, Chesondin earns bronze

KNOXVILLE – Led by a bronze medal finish from Timothy Chesondin, the Razorbacks finished fourth in the SEC Cross Country Championships on Friday morning on the Cherokee Farm course.

Arkansas scored 131 points and were eight points from placing second in team scoring. No. 8 Alabama, runner-up to the Razorbacks the past two years, won the team title with 64 points while No. 20 Georgia finished second with 123 points and No. 29 Oklahoma placed third with 126 points.

Finishing behind Arkansas were No. 22 Missouri (145), Texas A&M (163), Texas (172), Kentucky (181), Tennessee (188), and No. 25 Ole Miss (190).

This is the lowest finish for the Razorbacks since placing third in 2008 and 2019. Arkansas holds the conference record with 29 SEC cross country titles.

Florida had the individual winner in Kelvin Cheruiyot, who covered the 8,000m course in 23:08.3, while the Gators placed 10th (199) as a team.

Auburn’s Nickson Chebii finished second in 23:11.5 with Chesondin three seconds back with a clocking of 23:14.8.

Ben Shearer placed 10th with a time of 23:35.2 as the second Razorback.  Brian Masai followed in 12th place with a 23:39.7. James Sankei covered the course in 24:09.8 to place 30th and Jack Williams completed the Arkansas team score placing 76th in adjusted scoring with a time of 25:21.9 which placed him 82nd overall.

Also racing for the Razorbacks were Eli Seavey (85th, 25:26.6), Owan Logorodi (90th, 25:46.0), and Donovan Bitticks (94th, 25:51.0).

Arkansas will host the NCAA South Central Regional on Friday, November 14, at Agri Park.