CLINTON, Miss. --- For the first time in their program's history, the Mississippi College men and women's cross country teams are headed to NCAA Division II National Championships. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Abbey Course on the campus of Saint Leo University in Saint, Leo, Fla. The women's 6K is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. with the men's 10K at 8:45 a.m.
 
The two programs posted third-place finishes at the NCAA Division II South Regional also at Saint Leo.
 
The men are ranked 18th in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Poll while the women are receiving votes in the ranking.
 
 Eight Choctaws earned USTFCCCA All-South Region accolades during the regional.
 
 Hunter Kurz, Christian Balcer, Gabe Poulin and Brock Kelly represented the men's team on the list while Jazmin Hernandez,   Josie Whipp, Madeline Campbell and Emily Berry claimed honors on the women's side.
 
 Kurz and Hernandez were the top finishers for the Choctaws in their respected races. Hernandez finished sixth in the women's   6K with a time of 22:27.17. Kurz turned in a ninth-place finish with a time of 32:22.78 in the men's 10K.
 
 Josie Whipp finished 14th with a time of 22:52.02 while Campbell clocked a time of 23:08.06 with a 18th-place finish. Berry   finished 23rd with a time of 23:22.40.
 
 Balcer joined Kurz as a top 15 finisher on the men's side as he finished 13th with a time of 32:32.45. Poulin finished just
 outside the top 20 in 21st as he posted a time of 32:42.05. Kelly rounded out the quartet as he notched a time of 32:50.61 in
 24th place.
 
The eight honorees earned the distinction of all-region by virtue of a top-25 finish at the South Regional. Only athletes from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards. A total of 200 men from 81 different programs around the nation and 200 women from 94 different programs earned the acknowledgement.
 
Earlier this season, the Choctaws posted impressive showings at the Gulf South Conference Championships on their home course, Choctaw Trails. The MC ladies finished second at the event while the men finished third overall. A total of eight Choctaws claimed All-GSC honors during the two races. Gabe Poulin represented the men on the first team with a fourth-place finish. Cole Benoit (12th), Evan del Rio (15th) and Christian Balcer (18th) grabbed second team honors.
 
Jazmin Hernandez led a quartet of runners as she reset the school record with a time of 17:35.58, breaking her own time of 17:47.7, to finish fourth and earn All-GSC First Team accolades. Josie Whipp joined her Georgetown, Texas, teammate on the first team list as she finished eighth. Madeline Campbell (12th) and Emily Berry (20th) each grabbed second team honors in the 5K race.