INDIANAPOLIS – A phenomenal performance at the NCAA Southeast Region Championships proved to be even more fruitful for the UNC Pembroke men's cross country team on Monday afternoon when the Braves received one of 10 at-large bids to the NCAA Division II National Championships next month.
 
It will be the first team appearance for the men's squad since it registered a 15^th place finish at the 1981 event in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The 2018 event will be held on December 1 at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
The Braves have already captured postseason hardware after edging out Augusta at the Peach Belt Conference Championships earlier this month on the way to claiming their second league crown in four years. PBC Freshman of the Year Joshua Chepkesir and PBC Runner of the Year Silus Kipkoech finished 1-2 at that event, while seniors Logan Ward and Matthew Martin both picked up all-league laurels as well.
 
Chepkesir out-paced the rest of the 151-man field at Saturday's NCAA Southeast Region Championships in Gainesville, Ga., and led the Braves to a fourth place finish at the event.
 
Next month's trip to Pittsburgh will mark the program's third team appearance at the NCAA Championships. The Braves posted a second place finish at the 1980 event and combined for a 15^th place finish in 1981. UNCP has also logged seven team appearances at the NAIA National Championships, including an NAIA National Championship in 1978.