Woodall and Kearney post national No. 1 marks at JDL Early Bird Invite

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (December 4, 2022) – The Milligan University indoor track and field teams notched nine NAIA national qualifying marks with seven NAIA "A" standards at the JDL Fast Track on Sunday.

The Buffs posted national No. 1 times in both the men's and women's 3k races and 13 top-10 national marks.

"I think what stands out the most is how well we competed after such a busy week and heading into exams," said head coach Chris Layne. "Really proud of the focus."

Bryn Woodall won the men's race in 8:14.47, a personal best and school record time in an event he finished third nationally at last winter's NAIA National Championships. Will Stockley (8:23.55) finished second, Aaron Jones was third (8:27.27), Jake Crow crossed fourth (8:39.33) and Arran Kearney (8:39.33) made it a top-five sweep with personal bests across the board for the Buffs. Woodall, Stockley and Jones met the NAIA "A" standards with conversions for track size and Crow notched a national qualifying mark. Zimri Kuhn also recorded a PB in 8:54.18.

On the women's side, Ellen Mary Kearney won the 3k in 10:00.33. Caitlin Dominy was the runner-up in 1:03.34 and Alyssa Bearzi finished fourth in 10:10.54. Kearney set the meet event record and her converted time approached Milligan's program record and ranks first in the nation. All three runners hit NAIA "A" standards upon conversions for track size. Natalie Fellers (11:10.71) and Anna Jones (11:11.69) recorded event personal records in the 3k.

"We probably accomplished even a bit more than expected and that's a testimony to these student-athletes," said Layne.

Sylas Chambers and Alex Windham had national-qualifying efforts in the men's 800. Chambers won the meet title in 1:54.80 and Windham finished third in 1:56.14. Chambers' converted time is second nationally and hit the NAIA "A" standard. Windham's mark is fourth in the NAIA.

In the men's 60-meter dash, Ja'Quan Williams (7.17) and Kamdyn Lee (7.23) crossed in personal best times. Keith Fletcher recorded a PB of 8.46 in the 60-meter hurdles to finish fourth overall. Flecher was eighth (22.88) and Skylan Stephens was 11th (23.01) in the 200-meter dash.

Jeremy Evans set a PR in the long jump at 6.63 meters to finish eighth. Aaron Vaughn picked up a win in the men's 600 (1:25.88) in his collegiate debut. Pablo Rivas finished fifth and set a PB of 4:25.50 in the mile. Corey Greeson finished ninth in the weight throw with a heave of 11.79 meters.

Megan Christian was fifth in the women's 600 in 1:45.39 and Kiley Wood was sixth in 1:45.66. Halie Hawkins was sixth in the pole vault after clearing 3.20 meters. Ali Burns ran 5:28.99 to finish 10th in the mile. Patricia Barrera followed in 12th in 5:34.14.

"Getting so many conference and national marks out of the way this early really allows us to open things up training-wise," said Layne.

The Buffs return to action in January at the Mondo College Invitational on Jan. 14.