DeWolf, Thacker sweep AAC weekly cross country awards
Milligan University’s Avery DeWolf and Tim Thacker dominated the field in last Friday’s home cross country race. For their efforts, they were named Appalachian Athletic Conference runners of the week. The AAC made the announcement Monday for the week ending Oct. 4.
MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Oct. 5, 2020) – Milligan University's Avery DeWolf and Tim Thacker dominated the field in last Friday's home cross country race. For their efforts, they were named Appalachian Athletic Conference runners of the week. The AAC made the announcement Monday for the week ending Oct. 4.
This marked these Buffs' first AAC weekly honor of the season and the second for the Milligan team, following Evan Henson and Kaelyn Slaughter who swept the award last week. DeWolf won for the second time in her career while Thacker won for the fifth time in his career.
The Milligan pair ran away from the field Friday night, pacing their respective teams to victory. DeWolf, who ran 18:07, won by 33 seconds as the first of four Buffs inside the top five. Thacker ran 15:23, winning by five seconds, as the Buffs swept the top 10 on the men's side.
Both races featured a deep field full of nationally prominent competition. DeWolf won the race in a women's field that included 2020 indoor 3k national runner-up Gabrielle Mardis and 2020 indoor 5k All-American Bekah Owen. Thacker won the men's side in a field with 2019 NAIA Cross Country All-American Nathan Baker and 2020 indoor track & field national finalist Jake Crow.
Up next, the Buffs head to the AAC Preview Saturday, Oct. 17, in Asheville, North Carolina. It will be the final tune-up prior to the AAC Championships (Nov. 14). The program ranks No. 8 on the women's side and No. 13 on the men's side.
Tim Thacker crossing the finish line: