Five Milligan track runners qualify for nationals

Mandi Mooney

Assistant Editor/Web Administrator

Five members of Milligan’s indoor track team qualified for the NAIA Indoor National Championships last weekend at the Niswonger Foundation Invitational at East Tennessee State University.

“This looks to be another big step in the right direction for our program at Milligan, as this is the first time they’ve earned as many national marks in one competition,” Coach Chris Layne said.

Milligan’s first qualification for nationals came Friday evening when freshman Josh Ferry finished seventh in the men's 800-meter run. He had a time of 1:55.61, which ranks him No. 2 in the NAIA.

Milligan began the second day of competition on Saturday with the men’s and women’s 5,000- meter run. Sophomore Marta Zimon of Poland was the defending national champion in this event. She finished in second place with a time of 18:27.19.

Sophomore Megan Lease placed eighth the 5,000 with a time of 18:51.89. Zimon's and Lease’s times were good enough for qualification to the national competition.

In the men’s 5,000, sophomore Chris Wright earned a spot in the national competition with his 12th place finish and a time of 15:24.18.

Freshman Sean Bowman secured his spot at nationals with a time of 4:24.06 in the men’s one-mile run. He finished in ninth place.

The men’s distance-relay team of Ferry, Bowman, Wright and junior Trevor Donovan placed third with a time of 10:24.39, which guaranteed them a spot at nationals as well.

The Buffaloes will compete at Appalachian State University this weekend. The NAIA Indoor National Championships will be held March 4-6 at ETSU.