No. 3 Men’s Cross Country sweeps team titles at Royals XC Challenge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 6, 2023) – The No. 3 Milligan University men's cross country team won both the blue and gold 8k individual and team titles at the Royals Challenge on Friday evening.

The Buffs finished first of 24 teams with a team score of 44 in the blue 8k, against primarily NCAA Division II and III competition. In the gold 8k, the Buffs topped the 30-team standings with 52 points, defeating five NCAA Division I teams, including Wake Forest. Milligan also bested NCAA Division II No. 3 Wingate and NAIA No. 7 Cumberlands.

"It's just a lot of fun watching these teams compete," said head coach Chris Layne. "The heat and the dust made it less than ideal today but they just put their heads down and got after it."

The Buffs had three of the top four scorers in the gold 8k race, including the individual champion Will Stockley. Stockley collected his first collegiate cross country win in 24:30.

"Really happy for Will," said Layne. "This morning he talked about wanting to win a race before he graduates so it was great to see him accomplish that tonight."

Aaron Jones finished third in 24:38 and Bryn Woodall followed in sixth in 24:51.

Zimri Kuhn placed 23rd in 25:20 and freshman Bryson Lewis rounded out Milligan's top five in 35th (25:38).

Josh Hale (54th, 25:58), Alex Brittain (82nd, 26:31) and Sylas Chambers (83rd, 26:34) completed Milligan's eight-man lineup in the gold 8k. Each of Milligan's entrants finished in the top 100 of the 275-man race.

Arran Kearney won the blue 8k in 26:01, which would have been top-60 time in the gold race. Keaton Hincher followed in fifth (26:23) and Sam Kyker was seventh (26:28). David Crow (15th, 27:15) and Dillon Craig (16th, 27:18) helped the Buffs clinch the win in the early race.

"Honestly, we're seeing really good things in practice from both sides so I anticipate once we get better conditions they'll be in position to take another big step," said Layne.

The Buffs head to Knoxville for the NAIA Appalachian Challenge in two weeks.