HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Lee University won the men’s cross country 2024 NCAA Division II South Region Championship on Saturday morning at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala., while Alabama Huntsville’s Sam Wilhelm paced the field to capture the individual title. 

It marked the fifth consecutive season that a Gulf South Conference program won the team title and the fourth straight year a GSC runner was the men’s individual champion.

FULL RESULTS (HTML)

Lee, Alabama Huntsville and Mississippi College accounted for the top three spots for the time since 2021. As a result, each team earned automatic bids to the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship. The national meet will be held Nov. 23 at Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento, Calif. The full list of team and individual participants will be announced Monday, Nov. 11 via press release on ncaa.com.

The Flames captured their fourth consecutive with 39 points with all five scoring runners finishing inside the top-15, with the top four inside the top-10. Lee’s score was the lowest by a GSC team since 2011 matching UAH’s team total. 

The Chargers placed second with 63 points, while the third-place Choctaws registered 81 points. 

Wilhelm completed the 10K course in 30:15.00 to earn his first-ever cross country region title. Teammate Noah George (30:58.71) placed fourth, while Lee duo Ryan Lovelace (30:55.98) and Edimo Nintererse (30:59.90) finished third and fifth, respectively.

NCAA D2 Men’s Cross Country South Region - 10K
1.    Lee - 39
2.    UAH - 63
3.     Mississippi College - 81
4.     Florida Southern - 91
5.    Embry-Riddle - 136
6.    Tampa - 161
7.    Palm Beach Atlantic - 186
8.    AUM - 270
9.    Florida Tech - 31210.     Union - 322
11.    Christian Brothers - 342
12.    Montevallo - 360
13.    Trevecca Nazarene - 372
14.    West Alabama - 383
15.    West Florida - 389
16.    Nova Southeastern - 396
17.    Lynn - 451
18.    Valdosta State - 519
19.    Barry - 556
20.    Morehouse - 590

NCAA All-Region Honorees from GSC (Top 25)
1.    Sam Wilhelm, UAH (30:15.99)
3.    Ryan Lovelace, LEE (30:55.98)
4.    Noah Georgia, UAH (30:58.71)
5.    Edimo Nintereste, LEE (30:59.90)
6.    Christian Balcer, MC (31:14.44)
8.    Xian Campbell, LEE (31:17.00)
9.    Luke Gaddis, LEE (31:17.41)
10.    Nathan Knox, UAH (31:19.25)
11.    Cooper Parmer, MC (31:21.88)
12.    Braedon Methvin, MC (31:22.06)
14.    Owen Pearce, LEE (31:35.88)
17.    Pierre Chauveau, LEE (31.47.71)
19.    Nate Pohlsander, UAH (31:54.69)
22.    Aaron Fynaardt, UU (32:01. 88)
23.    Dalton Benefield, AUM (32:05.53)
24.    Brock Kelly, MC (32:06.31)