Results
LAKELAND, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle men's cross country team earned the right to race one more time in 2018 as the Eagles claimed their first-ever NCAA II South Region championship on Saturday morning in dominant fashion and will advance to the NCAA II National Championship in Pittsburgh in two weeks. The Eagles stayed undefeated against NCAA II opponents, placing five runners in the top-16 en route to their third straight race title and fourth of the 2018 campaign.
The 10K race proved to be to the Blue and Gold's liking as Embry-Riddle put all five scorers in the top-16, including three in the top-10, led by Sunshine State Conference Runner of the Year
Shaun Bullock who finished seventh overall in a 10K program-record 32:12.91.
Following Bullock was a trio of Eagle racers that went 9-10-11 in
Calahan Warren (32:21.49),
Lelei Too (32:21.65) and
Paul McKenna (32:22.16). The four top finishers all ran the four-fastest 10K times in school history.
SSC Freshman of the Year
Ryan Szklany wrapped up the region title for the Eagles, finishing in 16th place in 32:41.68, moving up 12 spots from the halfway point of the race when he was 28th overall.
Paris Williams (33:14.11) and
Garrett Noltemeyer (34:03.07) acted as displacers for ERAU, finishing in 33rd and 65th, respectively.
The Eagles totaled 48 points, nearly half of last year's South Region champion Lee (Tenn.)'s 2017 point total, as the Blue and Gold beat out the Flames who finished second with 67 points. SSC member Florida Southern finished third with 99 points, while Alabama-Huntsville (108) and Mississippi College (122) rounded out the top five.
The region crown is the first for the men's team in program history and qualifies the Eagles for the NCAA II National Championship on Dec. 1 in Pittsburgh. It will be the Eagles' first-ever national championship appearance as a team at the NCAA II level.
