Indoor Track & Field returns to action at Roanoke

SALEM, Va. (January 19, 2024) – The Milligan University indoor track and field teams began their 2024 schedule at the Finn Pincus Invitational at Roanoke on Friday evening. The Buffs took three meet titles and a pair of second place finishes in the opening round of events on Friday.

"A lot of positive results today," said head coach Chris Layne. "Great to get the crew back going, especially after the week of weather we had. I thought the sprint group really stood out and we had a lot of our distance folks, including the DMR's in the mix up front."

Bryn Woodall hit the NAIA's automatic national qualifying standard in the indoor 3k. The defending NAIA 3k national champion punched his ticket for the national championship meet with a time of 8:23.89 to finish as the meet runner-up. Zimri Kuhn finished fifth in 8:59.54 and Dillon Craig placed ninth in 9:16.19.

Gracie Allen was the top collegiate finisher in the women's 3k as she was the meet runner-up in 10:34.16. Anna Jones followed in third in 11:16.04 and Cameron Walker crossed sixth in 11:44.75.

The Buffs swept the meet titles with a pair of No. 2 national times in the distance medley relay. Arran Kearney, Ja'Quan Williams, Roman Hodgson and Aaron Jones won in 10:29.43 while Hope Krell, Megan Christian, Kaelyn Slaughter and Hannah Brown finished first in 13:06.90.

Carter Windham won the men's 500 meters in 1:08.30. Austin Walker followed in sixth in 1:11.36.

Keith Fletcher breezed through to tomorrow's 60-meter hurdles final with the top time in the prelims at 8.41 seconds.

Romario Taylor finished third in the 60-meter dash in 6.93 seconds. Hunter Crook (.715) and Ja'Quan Williams (7.16) both logged PRs in the event.

Macy Hinkle finished seventh in the high jump at 1.45 meters and Conner Mowell finished eighth in the men's high jump (1.80 meters).

"Megan Christian had a great 400 leg on the DMR, the 60 meter men really looked strong coming off the break and then great to see Carter pick up a quality win," said Layne. "Bryn missed a little training but happy to have him back and heading in the right direction."

The Buffs continue at the Finn Pincus Invitational tomorrow.