Indoor Track claims five titles as Buffs top men’s and women’s standings after day one of AAC Championships

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (February 16, 2023) – The Milligan University indoor track & field teams captured five Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) titles and stands atop the men's and women's standings after the first day of action at the AAC Championships at the JDL Fast Track on Thursday evening.

The Buffs lead the 11-team women's standings with 62 points through seven events, 17 points ahead of second place Montreat. In the men's team standings, the Buffs and Cavs are tied atop the team ledger with 76 team points.

"Points-wise, day one really played out like we had hoped and it was great to see so many of our crew step up with wins, records, PB's or really bettering their seeds coming in to the championship," said head coach Chris Layne.

Bryn Woodall claimed the men's 1k title in 2:27.31 to break the AAC Championships and venue collegiate record. Will Stockley (4th, 2:28.39) and Sylas Chambers (5th, 2:28.62) joined Woodall with personal-best times that were under the previous championship meet standard. Each of the Buffs' top three finishers went under the NAIA automatic qualifying standard prior to conversion.

Ellen Mary Kearney blazed to a Milligan and AAC Championships meet record 2:54.08 to win the 1k. Caitlin Dominy finished second at 2:54.47, which also bested the previous Milligan and AAC mark. Both Kearney and Dominy's times hit NAIA "A" standards before conversion. Kaelyn Slaughter (3:08.63) and Patricia Barrera (3:13.98) scored for the Buffs with seventh and eighth place finishes respectively.

Skylan Stephens repeated as the AAC champion in the 400 in 50.18. Ja'Quan Williams finished second in 50.83 and Aaron Vaughn was fifth in 51.38.

After setting Milligan's 5k record two weeks ago at the Camel City Invitational, Alyssa Bearzi cruised to the AAC title in the event in 17:55.44, an NAIA "A" standard. Anna Jones (19:13.62) and Ashlyn Haas (19:21.65) turned in personal-best efforts to finish fourth and fifth. Natalie Fellers followed in sixth in 19:26.99.

Aaron Jones repeated as the AAC's men's 5k champion and posted an NAIA "A" standard with a mark of 14:48.38. Evan Henson ran to a third-place finish with a personal best and national qualifying time of 15:02.14. Dawson Reed (5th, 15:28.27), Alex Brittani (6th, 15:30.61) and Alex Haggard (8th, 15:52.53) made it five Buffs in the top eight in the men's 5k.

Milligan's women finished as the runner-up in the distance medley relay with a 13:15.68 effort from Slaughter, Kiley Wood, Sophia Jeffers and Ali Burns.

The Buffs' men's DMR unit of Jake Crow, Carter Windham, Samir Koko and Pablo Rivas also took silver in 10:32.90.

Rebecca Glover posted a runner-up showing in the 400 in 1:02.27 and Megan Christian notched a sixth-place finish in 1:03.18.

Corey Greeson was sixth in the men's weight throw with a toss of 13.47 meters. Kacey Webb made the finals in the women's weight throw and finished ninth with a mark of 12.43 meters.

The AAC Championships conclude at the JDL Fast Track tomorrow with the final 13 events.