WALTHAM, Mass. – Six Bentley University cross country runners have been recognized as Division All-East Region by the United States Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their top 25 finishes Sunday at the NCAA Division II Regional Championship in Hopkinton, N.H.

The men's team was represented on the All-Region team by one from each class: senior Tom Dean (Portland, Maine/Deering HS), junior Nik Haas (Ramsey, N.J./ Ramsey HS), sophomore Ryan Cadorette (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) and freshman Cody Murphy (Dunbarton, N.H./Goffstown HS).

For the women, grad student Tara Dooley (Lee/Lee HS) and junior Julia Morena (Boylston/ Tahanto Reg. HS) received the honor.

Dooley, a two-time All-America and the 2013 regional champion, had the highest finish for the Falcons, placing fourth with a 6,000-meter time of 21:54.39 to earn a fourth trip to the NCAA Division II Championships. Morena was Bentley's number two runner at the regional, placing 18th overall in 22:21.07.

The four Falcon men who earned All-Region honors were separated by only six places and 11 seconds with Dean 16th (32:10.79), Cadorette 17th (32:11.66), Haas 20th (32:15.69) and Murphy 22nd (32:21.03).

Their strong showing helped Bentley finish second and qualify for the NCAAs as a team for the first time since 2012. The nationals will be held Nov. 21 in Joplin, Mo.