Ellen-Mary Kearney and Chris Layne collect regional applause

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (November 8, 2023) – Milligan University sophomore Ellen-Mary Kearney and cross country coach Chris Layne were awarded top regional honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday.

Kearney was named the USTFCCCA South Region Athlete of the Year and Layne was awarded the USTFCCCA South Region Coach of the Year for the fourth-straight season.

Kearney repeated as the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Runner of the Year and individual champion in 2023. She won the AAC title with a program-record 6k time of 20:55. In six appearances this season, Kearney has six top-10 finishes and five top-five showings.

Kearney was honored as the AAC Runner of the Week four times and was selected as the NAIA National Runner of the Week twice. In Milligan's opener, Kearney finished third at Appalachian State's Firetower Project Run, finishing only behind the top runners for Florida State and Mercer. At the Royals Cross Country Challenge, she finished third with a 5k time of 17:25 as the Buffs took the meet title over 10 NCAA Division I teams, including nationally-ranked Furman, Wake Forest, Charlotte and South Carolina.

Layne coached Milligan to its 21st-straight NAIA National Championship Appearance as the Buffs captured their fourth-straight AAC title (18th overall). The Buffs swept the top four finishers at the AAC Championships and won the title with a team score of 17. Milligan collected a No. 2 ranking in every edition of the NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 in 2023. The Buffs have collected top-10 rankings in every poll over the last four full seasons.

The 2023 NAIA National Championships are scheduled for Nov. 17 at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Championship Course in Vancouver, Wash.