Baker, Layne earn USTFCCCA Regional Recognition
Awards keep rolling in for the No. 15 Milligan College cross-country team. After winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship title for the third time in the last five years, junior Nathan Baker was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Region Men’s Runner of the Year while Head Coach Chris Layne earned South Region Men’s Coach of the Year.
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Nov. 14, 2019) – Awards keep rolling in for the No. 15 Milligan College cross-country team. After winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship title for the third time in the last five years, junior Nathan Baker was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Region Men's Runner of the Year while Head Coach Chris Layne earned South Region Men's Coach of the Year. The announcement came from the USTFCCCA office Thursday.
Baker won AAC Runner of the Year honors following his victory in the men's 8k race, taking the individual crown in a time of 25:01. The effort landed the junior from Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, a spot on the All-Conference first team for the second time in his career. Baker previously won All-Conference first team honors his freshman season, the same season he won AAC Freshman of the Year, before injury sidelined him at last year's AAC Championship.
Layne's recognition as the men's coach of the year brought his career coach of the year tally to 24, counting men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track & field. He has won five in men's cross-country, including three in the last five seasons.
"Obviously I feel like Nathan is very deserving," Layne said. "He's always had the talent to be one of those guys that stands out, and I think things are once again lining up for him at exactly the right time."
Baker, Layne and the Buffs will compete one more time this season, and it will be on the highest stage when they travel to Vancouver, Washington, for the NAIA Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championships. The meet is set for Friday, Nov. 22, with the men's race set for 1:30 p.m. eastern time and the women's race set for 2:30 p.m. eastern time.