MEADVILLE, Pa. – After a tense evening of uncertainty, the Allegheny men's cross country team secured its sixth consecutive berth to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. The Gators were one of 16 at-large teams selected to the field following a fifth-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Mideast Regional.

Thirty-two teams were selected to participate in the championship race. The top two teams automatically qualified from each of the NCAA's eight regions while an additional 16 teams were chosen as at-large picks. Fifty-six individuals, the first seven athletes from each region who are not a part of a qualifying team, also earn a spot in the national field.

Wartburg College will host the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 20, at the Max Championship Cross Country Course in Waverly, Iowa. The men's race will begin at 11 a.m. eastern time.

The Gators have been a perennial power in the national title picture, but their hopes to replicate or improve upon last year's third-place finish were nearly dashed as the team endured their worst race of the season at regionals. Entering the weekend ranked No. 2 in the national polls while returning four of its top five from last year's Mideast Region championship unit, Allegheny fell to fifth in the race. Senior Jeramie Parker was Allegheny's top finisher after finishing second overall.

“We're going to use the next few days to re-group and re-focus,” commented head coach Brent Wilkerson. “There's not a lot to talk about regarding regionals. It's behind us, and we'll be ready to put our best foot forward at nationals.”

Allegheny closed third at NCAA's last season, matching its finish from 2006. The Gators also finished seventh in 2007 and have finished in the top 10 the last four years.