Video Stream // Live Results

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Capping off an impressive 2016 campaign, the 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport men's cross country team will take part in the NCAA National Championships on Saturday afternoon at the E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park.

The Captains will head out on the course for the 8k at noon. Admission for the meet is $10. For those fans unable to make it to the competition, live results and a video stream of the action will be available at NCAA.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.

Christopher Newport punched its ticket to the national meet after winning the NCAA South / Southeast Regional Championship for just the second time in program history. Overall, it marks the fourth time that the Captains have qualified as a team for the national competition. Previously, the 1984 squad finished 21st, the 1994 team came in 20th, and last year's group placed 32nd.

Along with winning the regional title last week, CNU also carries the Capital Athletic Conference banner into the NCAA meet. The Captains won their second straight CAC crown earlier this year and have won six of their eight total competitions this season.

On an individual level, Grayson Reid headlines the national qualifiers after earning the South / Southeast Regional Athlete of the Year honor earlier this week. The junior has been tremendous throughout the season, claiming both the conference and regional titles while establishing a new program record in the 8k with a time of 24:43 during the Paul Short Run in October.

Along with Reid, five other Captains will also take part in the national meet after earning All-Region accolades for their efforts in Georgia last Saturday. JJ LaPointe came in fourth at the South / Southeast Championships, while Jeff Dover, Andrew Benfer, and Daniel Read followed with top-20 efforts. Sam Murch also earned a spot on the All-Region team after placing 33rd in the field.

Christopher Newport will be joined by three other programs from the South / Southeast Region on Saturday. Washington & Lee also earned an automatic bid after placing second at the regional competition last weekend, while Emory and Rhodes earned at-large berths.

The 2016 Captains are just the second team in CAC history to earn a spot at the NCAA Championships. Last year's squad was the first to accomplish the feat.

---CNU---