Lions Head to NCAA Southeast Regionals

MARS HILL, N.C.-- The Mars Hill cross country teams will compete for the regional title this Saturday when they head to the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championships, which will be run at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte.

The men's and women's teams will each compete in the race. The men's team won its 16th-consecutive South Atlantic Conference Championship in their last race two weeks ago. The women's team placed fourth at the same event. The NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship men's race will take place at 10:00 a.m., followed by the women's race at 11:00 a.m.

Each team competed on the same course at the Royals Pre-Region Cross Country Challenge on Oct. 14. The men placed second among Division II teams at the event, running an average time of 26:00.42. The women ran an average time of 20:21.82 to finish third among Division II teams in the meet.

The Lion men are ranked third in the Southeast Region by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) Pre-Region Poll. The Lion women are ranked tenth in the Southeast Region in the same poll.

Mars Hill's cross country teams feature a combined nine all-conference selections and are led by SAC Coach of the Year Mike Ownes. The Lions combined to place five runners on the All-SAC First team.

The top three teams in the regional will receive automatic-qualifying bids to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, which will be held Nov. 17 in Joplin, Mo.

The McAlpine Creek Championship Cross Country Course is located at 8711 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28212. Tickets will be available for purchase the day of the race at the course entrance. Adult and student tickets are $2, with children under the age of 10 admitted free.