Milligan's LaBonte, women's DMR lead nation

Milligan College, Tenn. (Jan 24, 2008) --- Senior All-American MacKenzie LaBonte (Port Charlotte, Fla.) and Milligan's women's distance medley relay sit atop this week's national rankings released by the NAIA national office.

LaBonte is fresh off a runner-up finish in the women's 3000 meters at the Niswonger Invitational last Saturday, while the women's distance medley relay team of Nicole Moore (Boise, Idaho.), Brittany Bales (Kingsport, Tenn.), Jacklyn Talbert (Mt. Carmel, Tenn.), and LaBonte also used the local meet to get their national mark out of the way. The quartet's time leads the nation by more than 10 seconds. 

Milligan sophomore Rebecca McDowell (Mechanicsville, Va.) currently ranks second in the women's 5000 meters, while teammates Ashley Pearce (St. Cloud, Fla.) and Erika Fox (Gambrills, Md.) sit in the no. 3 and no. 4 spots in the 5k national rankings.

Junior Talbert ranks 7th in the women's 800 meters and 11th in the mile.

"It's early in the season, and there are plenty of good athletes that haven't posted times, so we have plenty of work to do before March," said head coach Chris Layne.