FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Fayetteville State University will send three elite runners to the 2025 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships, following standout performances at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships held Saturday in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
 
Franklin Kipchirchir, Brian Kiprop, and Faith Kiplimo each earned individual qualification after placing among the top finishers in their respective races. Their advancement marks the most individual qualifiers from any school in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) this season.

• Brian Kiprop captured first place in the men's 10K with a time of 30:19.4, edging out teammate Franklin Kipchirchir, who finished second in 30:20.8.
• Faith Kiplimo, a freshman, placed third overall in the women's 6K with a personal-best time of 21:24.2.

 
Their performances helped Fayetteville State's men's team finish fourth overall, just one point shy of automatic team qualification, while the women's team placed sixth out of 23 teams in a highly competitive field.
 
The 2025 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships will be held on Saturday, November 22 at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The women's 6K race begins at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, followed by the men's 10K race at 12:15 p.m. Eastern.
 
Fans can watch the championships live at www.NCAA.com, with coverage beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern and continuing through the awards ceremony.
 
"This is a proud moment for our program and for the CIAA," said Head Coach Inez Turner, who was recently inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame. "Franklin, Brian, and Faith have worked tirelessly all season, and their performances at regionals were a testament to their discipline, heart, and belief in the process. To have three Broncos qualify for nationals — more than any other school in our conference — speaks volumes about the direction we're heading. We're not just competing; we're contending."
 
The NCAA selects 34 teams and a minimum of 24 individuals per gender to compete in the national championships. Athletes qualify through regional competition, with top individuals from non-qualifying teams earning at-large bids based on performance.
 
Fayetteville State's trio will compete among the nation's best Division II runners, aiming to cap off their season with All-American honors.