HOPKINTON, N.H. - - Julian Jones ran himself to the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championship, finishing second overall in the men's 10K race to lead the Wilmington University cross country teams at the NCAA DII East Region Championships on Saturday morning on the Hopkinton Fairgrounds.

Julian Jones becomes the third Wilmington individual to advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship race, joining the women's Althea Davidson in 2012 and the men's Mark Corrigan in 2018.

The women were off on the course first and finish 11^th overall on the 6K course, earning 266 points. Sammy Banning led the Wildcats with a 37^th place finish, running in 24:18.97. Amy Chomo was the second finisher for the Wildcats, placing 54^th overall with a time of 25:02.50 while Maddie Minnick trailed right behind in 55^th place with a time of 25:03.20. Tiffany Banning was the fourth to cross the line with a 66^th place finish, running in 25:37. 68. Angie Chomo closed out the scoring for the Wildcats with a 78^th place finish with a time of 26:15.33. Claudia Rodriguez completed the Wildcats on the course with a 99^th place finish, crossing the line in 28:18.47.

Southern Connecticut State won with 44 points while Roberts Wesleyan came in second with 53 points. Fellow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference foe Jefferson placed third overall to advance to the National Championship as well. The Wildcats were the second CACC team in the standings

On the men's side, the Wildcats finished eighth overall on the 10K course with 192 points. Julian Jones led the Wildcats with the second-place finish, crossing in the line in 31:34.82. Southern Connecticut State's Jonathan Volpe was the only runner to finish ahead of Jones, crossing the line in 31:02.78.

Skyler Pearson narrowly missed All-Region honors with a 29^th place finish, the Wildcat to cross the line with a time of 33:33.22. Carter Sparwasser was the third Wildcat to finish, placing 47^th overall with a time of 34:15.53 while Julian Rich placed 56^th overall with a time of 34:48.99. Reggie Hernandez closed out the scoring for the Wildcats on Saturday, placing 65^th overall with a time of 35:09.41.

Cooper Schmidt placed 84^th overall with a time of 36:45.60 while Braeden Peterson rounded out the Wildcats on the course with a 106^th place finish with a time of 40:09.52.

The men's team was the second CACC team in the standings, as Jefferson placed fifth overall with 144 points. Southern Connecticut State won the meet with 34 points followed by Roberts Wesleyan with 106 and Franklin Pierce with 118 points. All three teams advance to the National Championship on November 22.

The NCAA Division II National Championships will be hosted at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday, November 22.