Buffs wrap split weekend with more stellar marks

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 6, 2021) – The Milligan University track & field team wrapped up another successful day of another successful split weekend Saturday at Columbia International University and East Tennessee State University. The meet featured 10 national qualifiers, 28 personal bests and several of the top marks nationally.

Avery DeWolf and Alyssa Bearzi posted two of the top marks in the NAIA on the women's side as the No. 11 Buffs competed Saturday at CIU. DeWolf ran the mile in a personal best 5:08.10 as the top collegian and good for the seventh-best mark in the nation so far this season. Bearzi ran the 3k in a personal best 10:14.59 to finish runner-up with the eighth-best NAIA mark.

Bekah Owen, Gabrielle Mardis and Caitlin Dominy followed closely behind DeWolf in the mile with finishes of fifth, seventh and ninth, respectively. Dominy ran a personal best 5:27.72.

Other highlights on the women's side included Kiley Wood who finished sixth in the 200 meters in 27.66.

On the men's side, No. 17 Milligan posted similar results in similar events. Nathan Baker ran a 4:23.33 mile to finish fourth as the top collegian while Pablo Rivas ran a personal best 4:31.39 to win his heat.

Tim Thacker and Eli Cramer both ran personal bests in the 3k with times of 8:40.69 and 8:45.17 for second- and third-place finishes, respectively. Thacker, who owns the No. 1 NAIA time over 1000 meters and the mile, ran the No. 16 NAIA mark as the top collegian in the 3k.

Rounding out the CIU highlights for the men was Skylan Stephens who ran a personal best 22.90 in the 200 meters, good for third, and a personal best 50.42 in the 400 meters, good for second as the top collegian.

"After this weekend, I think we're sitting at 13 top-10 marks nationally and 70 top-10 marks in the Appalachian Athletic Conference," said Head Coach Chris Layne. "I'm really proud of how our student-athletes and coaches have continued to pursue excellence during a very difficult time in their lives. We always want to perform at a high level, but when you can do it and also enjoy yourself and enjoy the people around you, that makes it even more special to be out there doing this right now."

Milligan's crew that competed at nearby ETSU saw a handful of personal bests, including Blake Fauver in the triple jump, Ellie Ayers in the shot put and Hope Manifold in the 60 meter hurdles.

"Because of the setup of the semester and the short season, we're doing things a little differently," Layne added. "A bunch of our crew has endured a few more doubles and triples, and they have not complained once. They have put in a lot of hard work so now it is time to get rested up so we can put the finishing touches on being prepared for two big championships."

Up next, Milligan heads back to Virginia Military Institute for the VMI Classic next Friday-Saturday. The AAC Championships are set for the following week, and the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships are set for March 3-6.