Distance crew, throws lead Buffs at VMI Winter Relays

LEXINGTON, Va. (Jan. 30, 2021) – The Milligan University track & field team wrapped up a successful weekend full of high marks Saturday at the Virginia Military Institute Winter Relays. The Buffaloes earned five wins, 10 personal bests, eight top-five finishes and six top-16 national marks over the two-day span.

Saturday was particularly successful. Avery DeWolf ran away with the No. 1 NAIA time in winning the 3k in a personal best 9:57.91. She took the nation's number one time by over six seconds. Bekah Owen followed DeWolf in similar fashion, running the same event in a personal best 10:13.46 to secure a fourth-place finish and the fourth fastest time in the NAIA this season.

"Our distance squad really showed up today and we had a really good morning in the shot put," Head Coach Chris Layne said. "Avery and Bekah were fantastic in that 3k, but honestly I'm not surprised. They really kept the pedal down over break, and they just needed the right opportunity. They were so tough today."

More top results coming from distance crew

Nathan Baker, the 2018 national champion in the 3k, earned a win in the 3k as well, pacing the field in 8:52.28. Pablo Rivas followed in third place with a personal best 9:03.21.Gabrielle Mardis also posted one of the NAIA's top marks with the No. 11 time in the 3k to place seventh (10:34.39).

"Baker is coming off an illness, and he is easing back into things," Layne said, "but I think this will give him the confidence to know he's not far off."

The Buffaloes also saw solid efforts from the middle distances. Tim Thacker took third in the mile (4:09.75) with the NAIA's top time and second in the 800 (1:54.85) with the NAIA's No. 6 time. Matt Huff followed Thacker in the mile with a personal best 4:33.47, his second personal best of the weekend after his 1k effort Friday.

Rounding out Milligan's highlights were Valentina Kenjeres (sixth in the 800 in 2:29.99), Skylan Stephens (15th in the 200 in 23.30) and Kiley Wood (12th in the 200 in 27.74). Stephens was the top finisher for the Buffs while Wood posted an indoor personal best.

Field events led by shot putters

Three personal bests came from Milligan's shot put crew, as Allie Rose and freshmen Kade Hoilman and Ellie Ayers posted high marks. Rose matched her personal best of 10.56m to take eighth overall, and Hoilman threw the No. 6 mark in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (12.14m).

Up next

Milligan will send split squads to the Buccaneer Invitational and CIU Rams February Invitational next Friday-Saturday, Feb. 5-6. After that, the Buffaloes will return to VMI for the VMI Classic Feb. 12-13.