NEW ORLEANS, La. - - The season of firsts continue for the Wilmington University men's cross country team as it prepares for its first NCAA Division II National Meet on Saturday in Spokane, Wash. Most recently, the team received six votes in the final USTFCCCA Division II National Poll.
It is the first time the Wilmington University program has earned national recognition by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, joining six other teams that earned votes and landed just outside the National Top 25 in the organization's final national poll of the season.
The Wildcats finished third at the NCAA Division II East Regional Championship, earning the region's third and final bid into the National Tournament.
Junior Richie Mitten leads the Wildcats into the National Championship meet after winning the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship and finishing a team high sixth at the East Regional Championship. He paced the Wildcats with a 31:56.6 time in the 10,000-meter East Regional Championship event. He earned All-Region honors for his sixth place finish.
Sophomore Jesus Amezquita placed 12th at the regional meet, finishing in 32:20.5 while graduate student Mike O'Brian placed 25th in a time of 32:52.6. Both Amezquita and O'Brian earned All-Region honors for their Top-25 finish.
Freshman Ken Fontal finished 26th overall with a time of 32:53.4 while junior Tyler Muse rounded out the Wildcat scoring with a time of 33:10.4 and in 31st place. The Wildcats earned 100 points total to finish third and earned an automatic bid to the National Championship.
The men's 10,000-meter run will follow the women's race on Saturday, November 23 starting at 2:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) for the National Championship.
The 2013 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships can be watched live from the NCAA website, or by clicking here.
Fans can also follow the Live Results of the NCAA Championships scored by Prime Time Timing by clicking here.
The entire field and the NCAA Division II National Championship Game Program can be viewed by clicking here.