Cross Country Set to Compete at NCAA South Central Regional

Friday, November 14

Fayetteville, Ark.

9:00 AM

Texas A&M

NCAA South Central Regional

Nov 12, 2025 | Cross Country

By: Holley Rodriguez, Athletics Communications

FAYETTEVILLE – The Texas A&M cross country team travels to Arkansas to compete at the NCAA South Central Regional held at Agri Park Friday. The women lead the meet off with the 6k at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's 10k at 11:30 a.m.

The Aggies look to punch tickets to the NCAA Championships at the regional meet and are carrying momentum into the races from a pair of top six finishes at the SEC Championships. Texas A&M had three standout performers at the conference meet, as Jack Johnston, Debora Cherono and Joyce Kemboi each secured All-SEC Third Team honors after placing in the top-21 finishers.

The men have been paced by either Cooper Cawthra and Johnston at four of the last five meets this season, while Youssef Asslouj, Victor Kibiego and Carter Gordy have made up the third, fourth and fifth scorers, receptively, at the last three races.

"It's been great having Cooper [Cawthra] back," distance coach Wendel McRaven said. "He provides the leadership on the course, but he had a rough day at the SEC meet and Jack Johnston stepped up and took care of business for us and did a nice job and they provide good leadership. Yousseff [Asslouj] and Victor [Kibiego] even though it's their first year running for Texas A&M in cross country they have a wealth of experience, and they will be our key."

On the women's side, Kemboi led the charge at the SEC Championships and has done so all year finishing in the top-three scorers in all five meets this season. Cherono and Megan Roberts have been a model of consistency for the group also ranking top three at all meets they have participated in throughout the 2025 campaign. The top five scorers have been a collected effort on the women's side throughout the season, but Sophia Bendet and Elise Smoot stepped up in the postseason opener to round out the scorers.

"Joyce [Kemboi], Debora [Cherono] and Megan [Roberts] are a good core group at the front," McRaven added. "They do a great job training together. Sophia [Bendet] our freshman is right behind them. She's ready to have a great race and to be right there with them at the regional meet. They will have to set the tone for us. I told them after the SEC meet they ran conservatively. I said we need to stick our noses in there. We need to have two or three girls in the top 10 at the regional meet and we are capable of doing that."

Texas A&M is set to compete against 32 teams including Abilene Christian, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Baylor, Central Arkansas, East Texas A&M, Houston, Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Lamar, Little Rock, Louisiana, LSU, New Orleans (M), Nicholls State, North Texas, Northwestern State (M), Rice, Sam Houston, SE Louisiana, SMU (W), Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton State, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas State, Tulane, ULM, UT-Arlington, UTRGV and UTSA.

Fans can follow the meet live through Flash Results.

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