Ellen-Mary Kearney collects AAC Runner of the Week for fourth time

WALESKA, Ga. (October 9, 2023) – Milligan University sophomore Ellen-Mary Kearney collected Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week for the fourth time this season on Monday.

Kearney finished third in the 244-woman 5k field at the Royals Cross Country Challenge. Kearney led the Buffs to a first-place finish over 10 NCAA Division I teams, including Furman, Wake Forest, Charlotte and South Carolina. Kearney ran 17:25, her fastest time this season.

Milligan won the team title at Charlotte for the third-straight year, edging NCAA Division II No. 14 Wingate by 22 points.

Caitlin Dominy joined Kearney in the top-five with a fifth-place finish in 17:47. Zanelle Willemse record a personal best collegiate cross county 5k time of 18:17 to finish 16th. Hannah Brown notched a season best time of 18:34 to finish 28th.

Patricia Barrera recorded a nearly 40-second personal record cross country time and completed Milligan's top five with a 33rd-place finish in 18:42.

The Buffs head to Knoxville for the NAIA Appalachian Challenge next week.