November 10, 2009

NEW ORLEANS – UNCP freshman Pardon Ndhlovu was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) Southeast All-Region team along with three other Peach Belt Conference runners. The news was announced Tuesday afternoon.

Ndhlovu is the first cross country runner in UNCP history to be named to the all-region team. The last cross country runners to be recognized by the USTFCCCA were Justin Gordon and Grant Karshner for their academic achievements in 2006.

Ndhlovu, who was named the PBC runner of the week twice in his first collegiate year of competition, joins fellow PBC runners Nicholas Kering of Columbus State and PBC co-runners of the year Meshack Koyiaki, also of Columbus State, and Fidelis Mutiso of Clayton State on the Southeast All-Region team.

During the NCAA Southeast Regional 10K race held last Saturday (Nov.7) Ndhlovu finished third (32:14) out of the four PBC runners that made the Southeast All-Region team. ¬Ndhlovu could not catch the Columbus State runners and finished exactly one minute behind PBC co-runner of the year Koyiaki and just 31 seconds shy of Kering. Ndhlovu was able to hold off the other co-runner of the year, Mutiso of Clayton State, by eight seconds.

Ndhlovu will travel to the campus of Southern Indiana University in Evansville, Indiana on Nov.21 to compete in the 2009 NCAA Division II Cross County National Championships with the men's race set to begin at 9 a.m. The freshman captain was the only runner to qualify for the national championship this year, and will be the first Brave to represent the Black and Gold at the event in 28 years.