LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine University cross country will compete in its first-ever Division-I NCAA Southeast Regional Championship on Friday at the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The women's 6k race will begin at 10:30 a.m. (ET) while the men's 10k race will follow at 11:30 a.m. Bellarmine was permitted to compete in the ASUN Championship immediately after the D1 transition but only gained eligibility for NCAA postseason races this season after completing the four-year reclassification process.

Seven is the maximum number of runners per team in regional competition. There are nine regions and the top 2 teams from each earn automatic berths to the NCAA Championship. In addition, there will be 13 at-large selections. The top 4 individuals from each region not on a qualifying team earn bids to nationals. There are also two at-large spots for individuals.

Bellarmine's women previously participated in a 6k meet Oct. 18 in the Angel Mounds Invitational. However, this will be the men's first 10k competition of the season, not to mention the Knights' first since the 2019 NCAA II Midwest Regional.

Bellarmine is coming off a strong showing in the ASUN Championship, with both squads finishing in the upper tier of the conference. The men placed fourth and the women finished sixth of 12 teams.

Juniors Chase Atkins and Sierra Oesterling both landed All-ASUN accolades. Atkins was a second-team recipient after placing ninth in the men's race, while Oesterling was a third-team honoree after finishing 20th in the women's race. Atkins was named ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year and both he, Oesterling and men's seniors Jackson Gawarecki and Nolan Hester were Academic All-ASUN Team recipients.

Atkins, junior Alex Hooten (26th), senior D.K. Schnieders (29th), sophomore Will Nobbe (33rd) and Gawarecki (35th) were the men's scorers at the ASUN Championship, while the women's scorers at the conference meet were comprised of Oesterling, senior Trisha Sexton (42nd), senior Taylor White (43rd), senior Hannah Ellis (45th) and senior Justice Pohlman-Singleton (69th).

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