WILMINGTON, Ohio -- The Christopher Newport women's cross country team will compete in the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history when the Captains head out on the Golf Center at Kings Island Cross Country Course for the 6k at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Captains, who punched their ticket after finishing second at the South / Southeast Regionals last weekend, enter the meet ranked 32nd in the nation. CNU cracked the national poll for the first time in team history this week. Led by Matthew Barreau, who was named the 2014 USTFCCCA South / Southeast Region Coach of the Year, Christopher Newport is looking to make waves on the national stage. Last weekend, the Captains pieced together a magnificent effort in Georgia after finishing second at the regional championships. The squad eventually posted 124 points and averaged 23:22.39 over the 6k course. Pacing the squad, junior Lydia Cromwell led the way with a 14th-place effort at the regional meet after clocking in at 23:05.90. Hannah Bullen finished less than two seconds later in 16th. Logan Harrington, Julie Machamer, and Emmie Schmitt also secured All-Region accolades after finishing in the top-35, while Briana Stewart was just shy with a 40th-place performance. Overall this season, the Captains have pieced together an outstanding 2014 campaign. The squad won the Capital Athletic Conference championship for the second straight year on November 1 in Fredericksburg. The team also won the championship at the Salisbury Invitational in September and was the runner-up at the CNU Invitational in October. ---CNU---