SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Ronan O'Neill of Southern Wesleyan and Moureen Kimaiyo of UNC-Pembroke advanced to the 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship with strong finishes at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Southeast Regional hosted by Converse University at Milliken Research Park on Saturday, Nov. 9. 

The 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship finals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento, CA. 

Just a couple of weeks after claiming his second Conference Carolinas individual title in men's cross country in Southern Wesleyan history, O'Neill became the returns to the national finals after securing an 9th place finish with a 10K time of 29.58.8. 

O'Neill was one of two from Conference Carolinas in the Top 20 individually with Belmont Abbey's Nathan Gallman Hayden Goode finishing 19th in a time of 31:02.9.

Conference Carolinas men's team champion UNC Pembroke was the tops among men's teams in the conference at the regional with a sixth-place finish. Converse finished sevent and Lees-McRae was 10th. 

Conference Carolinas Runner of the Year Moureen Kimaiyo of UNC Pembroke was the top finisher individually in the women's 6K with a 5th place finiish and time of 21:33.5. She was the only Conference Carolinas runner in the Top 20.

Conference Carolinas champion North Greenville was the top team in the women's 6K with a seventh-place finish, while Converse finished 10th. 

The regional meet is a qualifying event for the championship finals. The top three teams at each of the eight regional championships will automatically advance to the championship finals while 10 at-large teams will be selected by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Committee for a total of 34 teams. 

In addition to team qualifications, the top two individuals who are not part of a qualifying team will automatically advance to the championship finals. All individuals who finish in the top five at the regional meet and are not part of a qualifying team will earn a bid to the championship finals and eight individuals will be selected as at-large qualifiers.