No. 17 WXC runs away with Zaxby’s Open

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 6, 2019) – All five competing Buffs finished in the top eight, and the No. 17 Milligan College women's cross country team opened the season with an emphatic win at the Zaxby's Open, hosted by Tusculum University, Friday night. Seniors Hannah Bell and Erica Stone led the way with the individual runner-up and third-place finish, respectively.

"Obviously it was great to see Hannah and Erica up there," Head Coach Chris Layne said, "and I know they also provided a ton of leadership for the three freshmen competing in their first collegiate race."

Milligan's freshman trio included Caitlin Dominy (fifth), Ali Burns (seventh) and Maci Cloninger (eighth). All covered the hilly 5k course in hot and dry conditions in under 21:30. Bell's runner-up finish came in 20:18; Stone followed in 20:19; and the three freshmen went in 21:11, 21:15 and 21:17.

"We ran a lot of our younger folks today," Layne said in reference to both the women and the men's team. "I was extremely proud of how they handled these tough conditions."

Milligan won the event for the second year in a row, scoring 25 points compared to 59 from Lincoln Memorial and 78 from host Tusculum, running on its home Holston Home Cross Country Course.

Up next, Milligan competes at home, running against Tennessee Wesleyan University in a dual meet, the Dual at Buffalo Creek. The event is set for Friday, Sept. 13.