Ellen-Mary Kearney named USTFCCCA South Region Athlete of the Year

NEW ORLEANS (February 22, 2024) – Milligan University sophomore Ellen-Mary Kearney has been tabbed as the NAIA South Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Thursday afternoon.

Kearney won Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) titles in the 800, 1k and mile and was named the AAC Women's Track Athlete of the Year at the conference championship meet. She also set the AAC Indoor Championships meet record in the 800 in 2:16.20. The Buffs captured the AAC women's conference championship for the second-straight season.

Over the course of the season Kearney recorded NAIA "A" standards in five different individual events. She owns top-10 national marks in all five events, including the No. 3 mile time of 4:55.08 and the No. 3 3k converted time of 9:43.24. She ran the anchor leg on the NAIA's No. 12 distance medley relay this winter.

Kearney posted the region's top times in the 800, 1k, mile, 5k and DMR this season. She was also honored as the USTFCCCA South Region Athlete of the Year during the cross country season.

Milligan heads to the NAIA National Championships next week in Brookings, S.D. The NAIA announces its national championship field tomorrow.