ROME, Ga. --- Eastern Mennonite University's Ryan Gehman highlighted a strong showing by ODAC schools and runners at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships as the senior won the individual crown in the men's race.  Bridgewater College's men finished second, securing automatic qualification for the Eagles' squad into the NCAA Division III championships field.  Six individuals from ODAC schools qualified for the men's and women's races combined.

The South/Southeast Championships were one of eight regional meets competed on Saturday across the country.  The top two teams in the men's and women's ranks from each region automatically qualify for the nationals in Mason, Ohio, on Saturday, November 22.  Sixteen additional squads will earn at-large bids based on several criteria including but not limited to performance at the regional meets.

The remaining 56 competitors to complete the fields of 280 runners will be filled by individual runners.  The top seven highest finishing individual runners from each of the eight regional meets earn a spot on the national stage.  Eligible individuals are those not a part of teams earning automatic or at-large bids.

On the men's side, Bridgewater (65) finished second to Emory University (62) by just three points in the team standings.  Center College (110) placed third, making the Colonels the most likely squad to earn an at-large selection, if any (none guaranteed).  BC's Luke Sole (25:40.28), Aaron Hill (25:43.21) and Trey Gibson (25:48.29) placed in the top-10 following eight kilometers at the Clara Bowl Course in Rome, Ga.  They finished fifth, eighth and 10th, respectively.  Keith Thomas (26:08.67) and Tim Miller (26:20.60) completed BC's scoring seven, placing 20th and 22nd.

Individually, Gehman's winning eight-kilometer time of 25:32.36 paced four ODAC runners that earned a spot in the NCAA D-III field.  Roanoke College's Harrison Toney (25:34.42) was the runner-up to Gehman, while Washington and Lee University's Levi Warring (25:42.53) finished seventh.  EMU's Jacob Landis (25:57.10) made it a pair of Royals heading to Ohio after 14th-place showing.  Should Centre receive an at-large bid, W&L's Mac Strehler (26:00.79) would be first in line for an individual qualification.

For the ODAC women, Bridgewater (160) was the conference's highest scoring team in seventh position.  Emory (62) completed its sweep of the team titles, while Christopher Newport University (124) finished second.  Centre (125) is again first in line for an at-large selection after placing third.

Two-time reigning ODAC individual champion Kaylee Kubisiak (21:50.33) from Bridgewater was the runner-up to Natalie Young (21:42.55) from the University of Mary Washington.  EMU's Kat Lehman (22.41.59) makes it two ODAC individual qualifiers after placing ninth in the six-kilometer race.  Should Centre pick up an at-large bid, Nicole Hull (22:52.86) from Trinity University (Texas) and Bridgewater's Zanny Ludtke (22:55.39) would be in line to earn trips to Ohio.

Full natonal fields are set to be released on www.ncaa.com (and/or the championship website) by 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.