KANSAS CITY, MO - The NAIA announced the team and individual qualifiers for the 2016 Cross Country National Championships, which will take place on Saturday, November 19th at the North Farms Cross Country Course in Elsah, IL. By virtue of his performance at last Saturday's Appalachian Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships, Montreat College harrier Brien Lancaster (JR/Jacksonville, NC) has secured an individual bid to compete at the national meet.

The junior, who is in his first year with the Cavaliers after transfering from Shorter University, led Montreat to a runner-up team finish at the AAC championships, which were held on the Montreat cross country course on November 5th. Lancaster's time of 26:25 was good for third place overall, behind only two-time defending champion Tyler Boone of Bryan College and 2015 cross country All-American Taylor Tafelsky of Milligan College. Lancaster earned one of the AAC's four individual bids to the national meet and will be the first Montreat runner to compete at the national meet since Winston Rheinbolt in 2014.

"I am excited for Brien to get the chance to compete at the national championships," said head coach Jason Lewkowicz. "He has been a quiet leader for our team all season and has set a great example for his teammates with his work ethic, attitude, and commitment to doing the little things well. After a strong finish by our men's team at the AAC meet, this will be a great way to cap of our cross country season."

Lancaster will join a group of 36 teams and 85 individuals in the 8k championship race, which will start at 11:30am CST (12:30pm EST) on Saturday, November 19th.