Milligan qualifies for final with third fastest time

Elizabethton Starr
by Ben Davis

Elizabethton, Tenn. (Mar. 6, 2008) --- Milligan's track & field team kicked off the NAIA Indoor National Championships in fine fashion on Thursday afternoon at the Memorial Center in Johnson City.

Seniors Brittany Bales and MacKenzie LaBonte teamed up with juniors Nicole Moore and Jacklyn Talbert to run the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) event in 12:15.41. That was the third quickest time in what was the semi-finals of the DMR; and it landed the four Lady Buffs a spot in Saturday's finals, which will take place at 3:30 p.m.

"They did exactly what we wanted them to do," said Milligan coach Chris Layne. "We laid out some splits prior to tonight, and three of the four girls were right on the money."

Moore runs the opening leg of the race, which is 1200 meters. Bales carries the baton for the second leg of 400 meters while Talbert takes care of the third leg, an 800 meter run. LaBonte anchors the event running the longest distance of 1600 meters.

"They did a good job," said Coach Layne. "MacKenzie struggled a little bit on the anchor. I think she probably went out a little bit too quick; but again, that was exactly what we wanted them to do."

Eight teams qualified for Saturday's finals with Simon-Fraser running the quickest time of the semi-finals coming in at 12:12.34. Azusa Pacific finished second with a 12:13.94.

Nortwestern (Iowa), Olivet Nazarene, Aquinas, Black Hills State and Cornerstone round out the field for the championship round.

Milligan's impressive performance in Thursday's qualifying run has Coach Layne and the Lady Buffs hopeful they can have a good showing on Saturday as well. The teams that place in the top six of the finals automatically earn All-American status.

"We just want to run fast," said Coach Layne. "I always say, ‘let's just run fast and if that puts us in the top six then that's great."

The DMR event was just the tip of the iceberg for Milligan's participation in the Indoor Nationals, which are being held in the Mini-Dome for the eighth consecutive year.

Several Buffs and Lady Buffs will be competing in the semi-finals of other events today.

Talbert will run the women's mile while Bales will compete in the 1,000 meters. LaBonte and freshman Lili Zaldana will participate in the 3,000 meter race.

Sophomore Rebecca McDowell, senior Erika Fox and junior Ashley Pearce will all run the 5,000 meters.

On the men's side, junior transfer Wegene Degefa will participate in the mile while sophomore Aaron Wood will run the 1,000 meters.

Freshman Ben Ronoh and Degefa will race in the 3,000 meters.

Junior Jamal Phelps will take part in the triple jump, which only has a finals round that will take place on Saturday.