BOSTON, Mass. - - For the first time in Wilmington University and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross country program history, a team is headed to the NCAA Division II National Championship after the Wildcats' men's squad placed third at the 2013 NCAA Division II East Region Championship on Sunday at Franklin Park.

With the top three teams earning automatic bids to the National Championship from the East Region, the Wildcats raced their way to 100 total points, 26 points ahead of the fourth place team to earn the final automatic qualification in the men's 10K race.

Wilmington was only two points from Franklin Pierce who places second with 97 points while host Stonehill won the East Regional Cross Country Championship with a low 78 points on Sunday. All three will represent the East Region at the National Championship on November 23 at the Plants Ferry Athletic Complex in Spokane, Wash.

Junior Richie Mitten paced the Wildcats on Sunday once again, crossing the line in sixth place overall in a time of 31:56.6. Sophomore Jesus Amezquita gave Wilmington 12 points with a time of 32:20.5 for 12th overall while graduate student Mike O'Brian placed 25th overall with at time of 32:52.6. For their efforts and finishing in the Top 25, Mitten, Amezquita, and O'Brian were named All-East Region.

Freshman Ken Fontal finished just outside the All-Region squad, trailing O'Brian by less than a second at 32:53.4, placing 26th overall. Junior Tyler Muse rounded out the Wildcat scoring, giving them a total of 100 points with a 31st place finish in a time of 33:10.4.

Junior Matt Mossman was the sixth Wildcat finisher on the afternoon, finishing just outside the scoring for Wilmington, placing 43rd overall with a time of 33:32.4. Graduate Marshall Hawkins was the final Wildcat competitor at the East Region Championship, placing 48th overall with a time of 33:38.7.

American International's Mike Biwott earned medalist honors as the East Region Individual Champion, crossing the line in 30:30.9 to lead the field of 185 runners. Adelphi's Nicholas Fillippazzo was second with a time of 31:17.5 while American Internationals' John Chirchir rounded out the top three with a time of 31:22.4.

On the women's side, Jeanette Halliburton was the lone Wildcat in the field, placing 74th overall with a time of 25:00.4 in the women's 6K race.