DeWolf, Owen All-Americans, Buffs take seventh nationally

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (April 9, 2021) – Avery DeWolf and Bekah Owen led the No. 4 Milligan University women's cross country team at the NAIA National Championship for the second straight season, this time earning All-American status to help the Buffs finish seventh.

The 41st annual women's 5k race took place Friday at Seminole Valley Cross Country Course, with Mount Mercy University serving as host.

This marked Milligan's second straight top 10 finish at the national championship and third time the Buffaloes finished in the top eight in the last four years. They have finished in the top 15 each of the last six seasons.

"Obviously this was a banner day for our programs," Head Coach Chris Layne said. "Tough conditions for everyone racing due to the rain and mud, but I really thought both squads battled through both championship races. You can nitpick here and there, but it is really hard to ask anything more from these kids. Week after week they fight through all of this craziness, and they represent us so well at an extremely high level every time they compete."

All-America status for DeWolf and Owen

DeWolf and Owen paced Milligan for the second straight meet, dating back to last fall when the Buffaloes captured their 15th AAC title in the last 18 seasons. It was the first race of the season not won outright by DeWolf, although the junior still nabbed the highest finish by a Milligan harrier since Hannah Segrave took the national runner-up in 2016.

DeWolf ran a personal best 17:53, 51 seconds off the lead and only 15 seconds off second place. Owen also ran a personal best in 18:15. The pair brought Milligan's All-American tally for women's cross country to 13.

Following DeWolf and Owen were Gabrielle Mardis (61st in 18:49), Gracie Allen (131st in 19:25), Ali Burns (151st in 19:36), Caitlin Dominy (178th in 19:47) and Lauren Spry (183rd in 19:49).

"Coming in, I thought we may have been slightly over-ranked on the women's side but you never know until the gun goes off, so I was really pleased with the girls and how they finished," Layne said. "Avery and Bekah have carried a heavy load and they keep stepping up. I was also really proud of our young crew this morning."