Milligan Track/Cross Country ranked top 10 in USTFCCCA Program of the Year mid-year update

NEW ORLEANS (March 24, 2022) – The Milligan University men's and women's cross country/track & field programs were both ranked among the top 10 nationally in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Program of the Year mid-year update on Tuesday. Milligan's men ranked fourth nationally while the women checked in as the No. 9 program in the NAIA through the NAIA cross country and indoor track & field national championships.

To be considered for the NAIA Program of the Year, teams must qualify for each NAIA national championship (cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field) and scoring is based on the team's finish at each championship. The mid-year updates includes results from the 2021 NAIA Cross Country National Championships and the 2021-22 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.

Milligan took home both NAIA national championships in men's and women's cross country on November 19, 2021, the first two team national titles in school history. The Buffs finished 10th on the men's side at the indoor championships and the women took 34th.

In 2021-22, Milligan has reeled in 15 All-America honors at NAIA National Championships. Alyssa Bearzi captured the 2021 NAIA women's cross country national championship and was joined by All-American teammates Lemi Wutz (5th) and Avery DeWolf Burton (11th). In the men's cross country championship, a gender-high four Buffs earned All-America status: Aaron Jones (11th), Nathan Baker (14th), Eli Cramer (20th) and Will Stockley (27th).

Bearzi was awarded USTFCCCA Athlete of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year honors. Both Milligan cross country teams were lauded as the National Scholar Team of the Year honors and 13 Buffs earned All-Academic status from the USTFCCCA. Head coach Chris Layne was honored as the NAIA and USTFCCCA National Coach of the Year.

At the indoor track national championships, five Buffs secured individual All-America honors along with both distance medley relay squads. Burton earned All-America honors in the women's 5k (5th) for the second-straight season. Milligan had four men earn indoor All-America honors for the first time in their careers. Bryn Woodall took the in the 3k, Stockley was fourth in the mile, Jones finished fourth in the 5k and Sylas Chambers placed sixth in the 800. Caitlin Dominy, Megan Christian, Gracie Allen, Rebecca Glover and Burton each earned All-America honors in the women's DMR. Woodall, Chambers, Alex Windham, Stockley and Jake Crow secured All-America status in the men's DMR.

Milligan captured Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) men's and women's cross country championships and the men's indoor track and field crown in 2021-22.

Jones and Bearzi were the AAC cross country individual champions and headlined 13 All-AAC performances at the AAC cross country championships. The Buffs took home 12 AAC indoor track titles and totaled 26 All-AAC honors at the indoor conference championships. Stockley and Burton were named AAC Track Athletes of the Year and Woodall claimed AAC Freshman of the Year honors.