Lemi Wutz shines in Milligan debut; No. 4 Buffs best six Division I programs in season opener

BOONE, N.C. (September 3, 2021) – Graduated student Lemi Wutz had a sterling Milligan debut and the entire Milligan University women's cross country team showed it belonged alongside a slew of NCAA Division I schools as the Buffs' opened their 2021 season at Appalachian State's Covered Bridge Open on Friday evening.

Wutz finished third overall in a loaded field of 130 runners and the Buffs placed fifth out of 13 teams at App State with a score of 158, besting six of 10 NCAA Division I programs at the meet.

Wutz, a two-time NAIA Cross Country All-American as a undergrad at SCAD Savannah, navigated the 5k course in 17:17.0, finishing only behind Florida State's Lauren Ryan and High Points' Hannah Brookover.

"Lemi was really patient early than just chipped away," said head coach Chris Layne. "That was a really good run this early in the season, especially on this course."

Also making her debut for Milligan cross country, sophomore Alyssa Bearzi finished 14th in 17:53.0.

Sophomore Gracie Allen broke 19 minutes for the first time in her collegiate cross country career, turning in an 18:37.5 effort to finish 35th.

Junior Caitlin Dominy clocked in at 19:26.1 to place 55th and feshman Natalie Fellers was 72nd in 20:01.9 to round out the Buffs' top five.

Sophomore Lauren Spry was 83rd in 20:13.4. freshman Anna Jones logged a 20:22.4 to finish 90th and Junior Ali Burns crossed 97th in 20:34.4.

"If you look back on the entire women's team, they had a good afternoon top to bottom," said Layne. "We were without two of our top five in Avery [DeWolf Burton] and Gabrielle [Mardis] and still finished fifth, which says a lot considering this was predominantly a D1 field."

Milligan cross country returns to action Friday, Sept. 24 at the Queen City Invitational in Charlotte.