Women’s Cross Country retains national No. 1 ranking

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (September 22, 2022) – The Milligan University women's cross country team retained its status as the No. 1 team in the nation in the first in-season round of the NAIA Women's Cross Country Top 25 rankings.

The Buffs collected 16 of 20 first-place votes in the poll to remain on top at 557 points. It marks the first in-season poll in which Milligan collects the No. 1 spot. The Buffs have appeared in every set of NAIA national rankings for the past seven season and have spent the last 22 polls inside the nation's top 10.

Milligan opened its season at Appalachian State's Covered Bridge Open on Sept. 2. At that meet, Milligan finished fourth of 13 teams, ahead of five NCAA Division I programs at the event.

The Buffs saw a number of PRs, including a 17:51 effort by senior Caitlin Dominy which placed her ninth overall. Her time vaulted her into Milligan's all-time cross country 5k top 10 and she collected Appalachian Athletic Conference and NAIA Runner of the Week laurels.

Freshman Lizzy Lucason joined Dominy with a sub-18 minute 5k and top-15 individual. She clocked in at 17:57 to finish 12th overall. Defending NAIA national champion Alyssa Bearzi opened her season with a 18:29 effort to finish 28th. Freshman Olivia Doran followed in 32nd at 18:54.

Milligan competes tomorrow in the Queen City Invitational in Charlotte at 5:45 p.m.