Friday, November 14
Fayetteville, Ark.
9:00 AM
Texas A&M
at
NCAA South Central Regional
Aggie Women Claim Second Regional Title in Program History
Nov 14, 2025 | Cross Country
FAYETTEVILLE – The Texas A&M women's cross country team punched its ticket to the NCAA Championships claiming the team title at the South Central Regional, while Jack Johnston secured individual qualification with a ninth-place finish Friday morning at Agri Park.
"The women ran great," distance coach Wendel McRaven said. "They ran smart early and built through the race and really closed the door over the last 2k. Joyce [Kemboi] and Debora [Cherono] did a great job at the front with Megan [Roberts] closing hard. Sophia [Bendet] and Elise [Smoot] rounded out the group and ensured all five athletes earned All-Region honors which is great."
The women's team saved their best showing of the season for the most important moment, as the group won the regional meet for the second time in program history and first since 2000. The berth to the national meet marks the third overall in Texas A&M history and second in the last three years.
"Jack [Johnston] put himself in great position early and did exactly what he needed to do," McRaven continued. "His development has been spectacular and it's great to see him earn a spot as a national qualifier."
Johnston secured an individual selection to nationals, after crossing the line ninth in a stacked men's field. The men's team as a group finished third in the standings, which ranks as their best finish at the meet since 2022.
The Aggie women dominated the 6k from start to finish paced by a pair of top ten finishers in Joyce Kemboi (19:55.4) who placed fourth and Debora Cherono in seventh (20:03.1). Megan Roberts also logged a top 15 finish, crossing the line in 12th (20:23.9). Rounding out the scoring with another two in the top 25 was Sophia Bendet in 23rd (21:08.1) and Elise Smoot in 25th (21:09.2).
On the men's side Johnston paced the group with a time of 29:48.4 as he placed ninth around the 10k course booking his ticket to Columbia, Mo. The second Aggie to cross the line was Cooper Cawthra in 14th with a mark of 30:11.2. Wrapping up the group was Youssef Asslouj in 17th (30:23.5), Victor Kibiego in 18th (30:27.7) and Carter Gordy in 26th (30:47.0).
The Aggies standout performances on the day earned them nine USTFCCCA South Central All-Region honors for top-25 finishes. On the women's side all five scorers including Kemboi, Cherono, Roberts, Bendet and Smoot garnered recognition, while Johnston, Cawthra, Asslouj and Kibiego were also recognized.
Team Results
Texas A&M won the women's events with 71 points, they were followed by LSU (86), Tulane (108), Arkansas (127), SMU (141), Texas A&M-CC (179), Stephen F. Austin (192), Texas (204), Rice (238), UT-Arlington (294), TCU (353), Baylor (359), Louisiana (361), UTRGV (371), Texas State (374), Arkansas State (436), Incarnate Word (459), ULM (467), Central Arkansas (468), North Texas (529), Abilene Christian (554), Lamar (600), Nicholls State (653) and East Texas A&M (673).
Tulane won the men's event with 44 points, they were followed by Arkansas in second (46), Texas A&M in third (83), Stephen F. Austin (112), Texas (118), Texas A&M-CC (183), TCU (201), Rice (279), Incarnate Word (295), UT-Arlington (318), North Texas (324), Lamar (345), ULM (365), Tarleton State (366), Abilene Christian (387), Texas State (427), Arkansas State (427), Central Arkansas (478), East Texas A&M (496), Houston Christian (513), UTRGV (564), Louisiana (570) and Nicholls State (729).
Season Record
Women's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 13-0
Paul Short Run – 4th – 36-3
Arturo Barrios Invitational – 3rd – 34-2
SEC Championships – 6th – 10-5
NCAA South Central Regional – 1st – 23-0
Men's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 12-0
Paul Short Run – 3rd – 37-2
Arturo Barrios Invitational – 1st – 34-0
SEC Championships – 6th – 8-5
NCAA South Central Regional – 3rd – 20 – 2
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, head to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
"The women ran great," distance coach Wendel McRaven said. "They ran smart early and built through the race and really closed the door over the last 2k. Joyce [Kemboi] and Debora [Cherono] did a great job at the front with Megan [Roberts] closing hard. Sophia [Bendet] and Elise [Smoot] rounded out the group and ensured all five athletes earned All-Region honors which is great."
The women's team saved their best showing of the season for the most important moment, as the group won the regional meet for the second time in program history and first since 2000. The berth to the national meet marks the third overall in Texas A&M history and second in the last three years.
"Jack [Johnston] put himself in great position early and did exactly what he needed to do," McRaven continued. "His development has been spectacular and it's great to see him earn a spot as a national qualifier."
Johnston secured an individual selection to nationals, after crossing the line ninth in a stacked men's field. The men's team as a group finished third in the standings, which ranks as their best finish at the meet since 2022.
The Aggie women dominated the 6k from start to finish paced by a pair of top ten finishers in Joyce Kemboi (19:55.4) who placed fourth and Debora Cherono in seventh (20:03.1). Megan Roberts also logged a top 15 finish, crossing the line in 12th (20:23.9). Rounding out the scoring with another two in the top 25 was Sophia Bendet in 23rd (21:08.1) and Elise Smoot in 25th (21:09.2).
On the men's side Johnston paced the group with a time of 29:48.4 as he placed ninth around the 10k course booking his ticket to Columbia, Mo. The second Aggie to cross the line was Cooper Cawthra in 14th with a mark of 30:11.2. Wrapping up the group was Youssef Asslouj in 17th (30:23.5), Victor Kibiego in 18th (30:27.7) and Carter Gordy in 26th (30:47.0).
The Aggies standout performances on the day earned them nine USTFCCCA South Central All-Region honors for top-25 finishes. On the women's side all five scorers including Kemboi, Cherono, Roberts, Bendet and Smoot garnered recognition, while Johnston, Cawthra, Asslouj and Kibiego were also recognized.
Team Results
Texas A&M won the women's events with 71 points, they were followed by LSU (86), Tulane (108), Arkansas (127), SMU (141), Texas A&M-CC (179), Stephen F. Austin (192), Texas (204), Rice (238), UT-Arlington (294), TCU (353), Baylor (359), Louisiana (361), UTRGV (371), Texas State (374), Arkansas State (436), Incarnate Word (459), ULM (467), Central Arkansas (468), North Texas (529), Abilene Christian (554), Lamar (600), Nicholls State (653) and East Texas A&M (673).
Tulane won the men's event with 44 points, they were followed by Arkansas in second (46), Texas A&M in third (83), Stephen F. Austin (112), Texas (118), Texas A&M-CC (183), TCU (201), Rice (279), Incarnate Word (295), UT-Arlington (318), North Texas (324), Lamar (345), ULM (365), Tarleton State (366), Abilene Christian (387), Texas State (427), Arkansas State (427), Central Arkansas (478), East Texas A&M (496), Houston Christian (513), UTRGV (564), Louisiana (570) and Nicholls State (729).
Season Record
Women's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 13-0
Paul Short Run – 4th – 36-3
Arturo Barrios Invitational – 3rd – 34-2
SEC Championships – 6th – 10-5
NCAA South Central Regional – 1st – 23-0
Men's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 12-0
Paul Short Run – 3rd – 37-2
Arturo Barrios Invitational – 1st – 34-0
SEC Championships – 6th – 8-5
NCAA South Central Regional – 3rd – 20 – 2
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, head to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
Players Mentioned
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