Men’s XC finishes as national runner-up with four All-Americans in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (November 18, 2022) – The Milligan University men's cross country team posted a national runner-up finish with four individuals claiming All-America honors at the NAIA National Championships at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee on Friday morning.

The Buffs posted a team score of 115, identical to Milligan's national championship-winning team total a year ago. Four All-Americans matches a program record, most recently by last fall's national championship team. Milligan posted its third-straight national top-three finish in men's cross country.

Milligan's men also ran to a national runner-up team finish and the Buffs collected the combined team title in the postrace awards ceremony.

"Two runner-up finishes, seven all-Americans and the combined team honor," said head coach Chris Layne. "Just a great day all the way around. This is a fun bunch and so so proud of their effort today."

Dordt took home the team title with a score of 97. Milligan followed at 115 points, then The Master's at 151 took third in the 36-team event. Milligan ran the fastest team total time (123:10) and average total time (24:38) at the championship meet.

"I really think both squads ran as well as they could have so just a big congrats to both Taylor and Dordt on their team titles," said Layne.

Aaron Jones became Milligan's top finisher at the NAIA National Championships in team history as he finished fourth in 24:05, a season best 8k time. Jones joins Buff greats Austin Ellis and Nathan Baker as the only three-time cross country All-Americans in team history.

Will Stockley joined Jones as a top-10 individual finisher. He ran 24:19 to finish ninth and earn his second-straight All-America honor.

Bryn Woodall made it three Buffs in the top 20 to secure All-America laurels in cross county for the first time in his career. He ran 24:38 to finish 19th overall.

In his final cross country race as a Buff, Jake Crow rallied to an All-American finish in the final 2k as he clocked in at a season-best 24:54 to finish 38th.

Dawson Reed completed the Buffs' top five in with a season-best time of 25:12 to finish 66th and Zimri Kuhn followed in 70th with a personal best time of 25:14. Alex Brittain closed out Milligan's top seven in 86th in 25:24. The Buffs all seven runners in the top 90 of the 318-man race.

"As a coach, it's important to see your crew perform well on the biggest stage - and that's what they're looking for - they did that - they're going to leave here with a lot of momentum," said Layne.