LAKELAND, Fla. The Embry-Riddle men's cross country team is headed to the NCAA II National Championship after placing third at the NCAA II South Regional Championship on Saturday. Ranked fourth in the region entering the meet, the Eagles flipped the script in their third match up of the season against third-ranked Alabama Huntsville, finishing with 110 points to the Chargers' 132 to secure one of the region's automatic qualifying spots.

Embry-Riddle had previously finished 61 points behind UAH at the Lucian Rosa Invitational and eight points back at the UAH Charger Invitational, making Saturday's result the breakthrough the Eagles had been building toward. No. 5 Lee won the regional title, while No. 17 Florida Southern placed second. All three teams will advance to the NCAA II National Championship in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Freshman Taye Newman led the Eagles with a seventh-place finish in 32:00.1, making him the first freshman finisher in the field and earning him NCAA All-Region honors. His performance also ranks ninth on ERAU's all-time 10K list. Nicholas Scarangelli joined Newman on the All-Region team with a 10th-place finish, marking the second All-Region recognition of his career.

Rylan Malarchick delivered a clutch performance, placing 29th in a personal-best 33:00.4, his best finish of the year relative to ERAU's scoring pack. Joseph Koraya followed in 31st with a personal best of his own, while freshman Henry Friedrichs continued his consistent season with a 37th-place finish in his 10K debut.

Embry-Riddle's scoring five included:
•           Two All-Region finishers
•           Two 10K debuts
•           Two personal best
 
Up Next?
The Eagles travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for the 2025 NCAA II National Championship on Nov. 22, hosted by Wisconsin-Parkside at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course.