Buffs move to No. 4 in national poll

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Nov. 19, 2020) – After capturing the individual and team titles last week at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship, the Milligan University women's cross country team moved up to No. 4 in the latest national top 25 poll. The NAIA made the announcement Thursday.

The Buffs, who have been inside the top 17 since Nov. 8, 2015, now have peaked inside the top five five times in the last three seasons.

"I don't envy the raters this year. Not only are we missing teams that simply aren't competing, you have teams racing places they might not typically race and it's just tough to get the right read on folks I would imagine," Head Coach Chris Layne says. "We know what we've got on our end so hopefully we'll all have the opportunity to line up in April on the same course and go at it."

Junior Avery DeWolf led Milligan the last time out, earning AAC Runner of the Year after winning the AAC title by 15 seconds. Milligan won the conference championship for the 15th time in the last 18 seasons. The victory marked the fifth win in six events this season as the Buffaloes remained undefeated with their top group and when facing NAIA competition.

DeWolf was the first of three Buffs in the top three, with Bekah Owen and Gabrielle Mardis following close behind.

Milligan is next set to compete at the NAIA Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championships, scheduled for Friday, April 9, 2021, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Last year, the Buffs finished eighth on the women's side and 14th on the men's side.