Buffs Outdoor T&F Squads Begin Spring Season at Lee University Invitational

Zimri Kuhn ran away with a huge 10k win for the Milligan men, shattering his previous personal best by 26 seconds to open his 2025 outdoor campaign

March 22, 2025

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Milligan University's men's and women's outdoor track & field squad began their spring campaigns at the Lee University Invitational in Cleveland, Tenn. on Friday. The Buffaloes had a great day, in which they posted their first national qualifier, two event wins, and 17 personal-best marks.

In the men's decathlon, Reese Pesterfield and Brendon Gibson currently are on sixth and eighth places, respectively. Pesterfield has already posted PB marks in the long jump, shot put and 400m, and is on pace to shatter his overall PB in the decathlon.

In men's hammer throw, Dillon Handshey had a new personal-best throw and finished in the top 10 of the event. Annika Hoefler did similarly in the women's hammer throw, placing sixth with her own personal best.

The men's 800m saw Luis Peralta become the first Buff to post a national qualifying standard this spring, as he won the event with a 1:51.15. Sylas Chambers ran the second-fastest time of his career at 1:52.61 to place fifth, and Carter Windham's PB mark of 1:52.86 placed him sixth. Jaiden Carmichael, Aaron Gottlied and Connor Vanderkolk also posted career-best clips. Isabelle Johnson shaved off five seconds from her previous personal best in the women's 800m, clocking a 2:25.15 for a 13th-place finish. McKenna Spaulding also had a personal-best time.

Hunter Crook (22.72) and Kaleb Spears (23.08) came away with personal-best times in the men's 200m.

The men's 10k was won by Zimri Kuhn, who had an inspired run, setting his new PB by a 26-second margin at 31:16.56. Ashlyn Haas debuted in the women's 10k, running a 37:29.59 to finish just 14 seconds shy of the national qualifying standard. Anna Jones posted her new personal best by over a minute, clocking in at 38:25.88. Natalie Fellers also competed in the event for the first time, placing seventh with a time of 39:24.68.

Faith Helton would place sixth in the women's javelin throw with a 28.91m toss.

The action continues on Saturday, as the Buffaloes look to add even more national qualifiers to their budding list.