Milligan wins first national championship

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Mary H. Stephens,

Reporter

A hundredth of a second was time enough for freshman Marta Zimon to bring home Milligan’s first national championship. March 8, she held her ground in the NAIA Indoor Track and Field championship at East Tennessee State University defeating Cedarville’s Erin Nehus in the women's 5,000-meters.

It took approximately five minutes for officials to discern the winner from the photo finish. Zimon did not believe she had won until hearing the official declaration. 

“I couldn't believe that I was first,” she said.

Zimon's first place win in the 5,000-meters qualifying race had already given rise to the expectation of her championship.

“It was like pressure. I mean all of those people told me that [I'd win.]. But you shouldn't think like that because you never know what will happen in your race.”

She agreed with Chris Layne, head coach of cross-country and track, that her strategy should be conserving energy. 

“Even I think she was prepared to run the NAIA record time on any given day in the right race, but we decided we would approach it more from a tactical perspective and run a race that would be conducive for her winning,” said Layne.

True to plan, Zimon stayed with the first breakaway group for six or seven laps, and then made a move with two girls following. On the final lap, Nehus charged to the finish. Elbowing and bumping, she battled Nehus for the final 300 meters.

Layne said Nehus’ aggression near the finish line likely shouldered Zimon into the win over the other 17 runners.

“Oh, I was so happy,” Zimon said.

To join Zimon in All-American status was freshman Megan Lease, from Camden, N.C., who won sixth place in the 5,000 meters. Layne said it was apparent Lease could run at a higher level at the Virginia Tech Challenge in February, where her time in the 3,000 meter showed she could compete nationally, and that her progress is the result of dedication. Lease described her dedication as more fun than hard work. 

After winning, Zimon called her family in Poland.

“They [were] waiting for this, and they are really proud of me,” she said.

Zimon might not have ever entered the world of running had it not been for a friend's protective mother. Due to bad weather, the mother kept her friend from competing in a race, who then asked Zimon to run. At about age 16 she won the first race she had ever entered, and was advised to begin training. 

On the men’s side of the championships, senior Ryan Starr qualified to race in the 3,000 meters and senior Terence Gadsden qualified in the 400 meters.