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WINGATE, N.C. – The Augusta University men's cross country team finished third on Saturday morning at the NCAA Southeast Regional to earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships. Augusta placed third of out of 23 teams at the regional race on the campus of Wingate University.
The top three teams from each regional meet automatically advanced to the championship finals for a total of 24 teams. The top two individuals not on a qualifying team also advanced for a total of 16.
This is the second time the Jaguars have advanced to the NCAA Championships. The team made it in 2013 and Augusta's Jaiden Brandt (2012) and Nick Del Guercio (2015) represented the team as individuals.
"Again, the men executed the plan we have used all year and it got them to the championships," Augusta head coach Adam Ward. "I cannot express how proud I am of these young men and to our seniors Dylan and Josh for their leadership. Man, what a day!"
Hosted by the Wingate Bulldogs at the Wingate XC Facility, the 2017 regional featured a women's 6K at 9:00 a.m. and a men's 10K at 10:15 a.m. The meet was won by Mount Olive, followed by Queens and Augusta to move on to the finals.
Unbeaten Augusta entered the race No. 6 in the NCAA Southeast Region rankings, and fresh off a Peach Belt Conference Championship – their fifth win of the season. Junior Daniel Broadhead finished the regional seventh overall (31:55.14) – his sixth top-10 finish of the season. Broadhead has led the Jags in every race in 2017.
Senior Dylan Forester fought for 11th overall in 32:22.14, junior Noah Hulett came in 13th in 32:39.17, and freshman Hunter Kimball placed just outside the top 20 in 21st (32:55.51). Freshman Jacob Poston placed 27th (33:20.37), and senior Josh Thompson 55th (34:27.98) to round out AU. Broadhead, Forester, Hulett, and Kimball earned All-Region honors for finishing in the top 25.
Augusta races at the NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Evansville, Ind.
2017 NCAA Southeast Regional – Team Finishes
1 Mount Olive
2 Queens (N.C.)
3 Augusta
4 Anderson (S.C.)
5 Mars Hill
6 Wingate
7 UNC Pembroke
8 Columbus St.
9 Georgia College
10 Lincoln Memorial
11 Lees-McRae
12 Carson-Newman
13 Flagler
14 Lenoir-Rhyne
15 North Greenville
16 Catawba
17 Tusculum
18 Clayton State
19 Coker
20 Francis Marion
21 Limestone
22 Belmont Abbey
23 Lander
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