Skyhawks finished second at NE10 Championships two weekends ago 

NCAA Division II East Regional Championship Central

EASTON, Massachusetts (November 8, 2019) – The Stonehill College men's cross country team, who is ranked No. 3 in the East Regional U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) rankings, will attempt to punch its 17^th-straight ticket to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships this Saturday, November 9 at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted by Jefferson University. The women's six-kilometer race will begin the Championship at noon, followed by the men's 10-kilometer race at 1:15 p.m.

The Skyhawks came home with second place from the Northeast-10 Conference Championship two weekends ago, as American International College took home their fourth NE10 Championship in program history. Four Skyhawks earned All-Conference honors including senior All-American All-American Lucas Taxter, freshman Reilly Johnston, sophomore Shane Braz, and sophomore Nickolas McNamee.

Taxter, who will be competing in his third East Regional, was the runner up at last years' event earning his second cross country All-East Region honor.

Juniors Kevin Wheelock and Jeff Pichie will both be competing in their second East Regional Championship, as they both have All-East Region honors in their list of accolades.

McNamee, who finished seventh at last years' Championship, recently earned his second NE10 All-Conference honor with a 20^th-place finish at the NE10 Championship. The sophomore was named to the All-East Region team for his first accolade. Braz will join the top seven for his first NCAA East Regional following a 16^th-place finish at the NE10 Championship, for a third team recognition.

Freshmen Colin Black and Johnston will also toe the line at the East Regional for the first time in their career. Johnston was most recently named NE10 Rookie of the Year after finishing ninth in the Skyhawks' ninth runner-up finish. Black finished in the top 30 with a 28^th-place finish.

With a top-three finish on Saturday, Stonehill would advance to its 17^th-consecutive NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship. The Championship will take place on Saturday, November 23 at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, California, hosted by California State, Sacramento.

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