SAINT LEO, Fla. --- The Mississippi College men's cross country team punches its ticket to the NCAA National Championships as the Choctaws finished third at the South Regional on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Abbey Golf Course.
 
MC finished behind fellow Gulf South Conference members, Lee (Tenn.) University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
 
Hunter Kurz was the top finisher for the Navy and Gold as he clocked a time of 32:22.78 to claim ninth place among the field of 94. Kurz posted an average mile of 5:12.8. Christian Balcer joined Kurz in the top 15 as he posted a time of 32:32.45 to take 13th. The freshman recorded an average mile time of 5:14.4.
 
Gabe Poulin notched a time of 32:42.05 to finish just outside the top 20 as he finished 21st with an average mile time of 5:16.0. Kelly Brock finished 24th with a time of 32:50.61.

Kurz, Balcer, Poulin and Brock each earned all-region accolades for their top 25 finishes.

Braedon Methvin, Adam Gomez and Cole Benoit rounded out the top seven for the Choctaws. Methvin finished 30th with a time of 33:09.23. Gomez finished 37th with a time of 33:32.66 while Benoit posted a time of 34:16.14 as he finished 48th.
 
Saint Leo University's Shane Bracken took the top individual honor as he clocked-in with a time of 31:21.89. LU's Christian Noble finished second with a time of 31:40.49 while Florida Southern College's Mason Jones recorded a time of 31:47.23 in third.
 
NCAA Nationals are slated for Saturday, Nov. 20 in Saint Leo, Fla., at the Abbey Golf Course.