CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the second time in three seasons, the Eastern Kentucky University men's cross-country team earned an automatic bid for the NCAA National Championships by finishing second as a team at the Southeast Regional on Friday.
 
The women's team also turned in a strong performance, finishing 13^th out of 36 competing teams.
 
The men were led by ASUN Runner of the Year Taha Er Raouy, who finished third individually in a time of 29:27.5, followed shortly by ASUN Freshman of the Year Brian Kimutai in sixth at 29:39.5 in his first-ever 10K as a Colonel.
 
Justine Kipkoech and Miguel Baidal joined Er Raouy and Kimutai as All-Region honorees by finishing 15^th and 18^th, respectively, in 29:58.6 and 30:05.5.
 
Tomas Vega finished just outside the All-Region team, ending in 26^th at 30:18.4, with Keeton Thornsberry finishing in a time of 30:19.3 to earn 27^th place.
 
Rounding things out for EKU was Mario Priego Montero in 46^th with a time of 30:46.0.
 
As a team, the Colonels finished with 68 points, only trailing Wake Forrest with 55.
 
The second-place team finish saw the No. 30 nationally ranked Colonels ahead of No. 4 Virginia (third) and No. 24 Virginia Tech (fourth).
 
Women's Race
 
Edna Chelulei claimed All-Region honors in her first NCAA Championships race, finishing 11^th individually in a time of 19:47.0.
 
Her top-15 finish is the first for the program since 2018, when Lilian Koborus finished 10^th. Chelulei also becomes the first female All-Region runner at EKU since Laura Tabora in 2021.
 
Khadija Ennasri and Metrine Serem were next across the line for EKU in 72^nd and 78^th, respectively in times of 21:08 and 21:18.8.
 
Ann Kiplagat and Morgan Kobylinkski finished the scoring for EKU in 80^th and 98^th in times of 21:16.9 and 21:33.8.
 
Up Next
 
The Colonels will now await the finalization of the field for the National Championships in Columbia, Missouri, on Nov. 22, with the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Cross Country selection committee announcing 13 at-large selections to the NCAA Championships via a selection show on Saturday (Nov. 15) at 5 p.m. ET.