Milligan men and women finish top 10 in USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings
NEW ORLEANS, La. (June 3, 2021) – The Milligan University track and field and cross country teams were recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as top 10 teams in the nation, according to the final USTFCCCA NAIA Program of the Year standings.
NEW ORLEANS, La. (June 3, 2021) – The Milligan University track and field and cross country teams were recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as top 10 teams in the nation, according to the final USTFCCCA NAIA Program of the Year standings.
To be considered for the NAIA Program of the Year, teams must qualify for the NAIA cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field championships. Scoring is based on the team's finish at each championship event.
Milligan's women's track and cross country program tied for third overall with Indiana Wesleyan with 30 points. The Lady Buffs finished seventh at the NAIA Cross Country Championships, 10th at the Indoor Track & Field Championships and 13th at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The men finished seventh in the final standings with 34 points. The Men of Milligan took third at the cross country championships, eighth at indoors and 21st at the outdoor championships.
The men's cross country team posted the program's highest-ever national championship finish with a third place team finish. Each of the Buffs' top four runners earned All-American status, led by Aaron Jones in eighth at 24:48.
At the 2020-21 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Nathan Baker won his second individual title in the 3k with an effort of 8:35.74. On the same day, Tim Thacker took home his first NAIA gold medal in the mile (4:12.25).
Emily Kearney closed her storied career with a pair of NAIA national titles and championships meet records in the 10k (34:07.91) and 5k (16:09.11). She also posted the fastest times in NAIA history in the 5k (15:39.65) and 10k (33:09.65) during the season.
Kearney was named the most outstanding performer at NAIAs and was named the USTFCCCA Women's Track Athlete of the Year earlier in the week.
In total, Milligan collected four individual national championships and 19 All-American awards over the course of 2020-21.