Track qualifies three for Nats Marathon

Milligan College, Tenn. (April 3, 2009) --- Milligan's Buffs and Lady Buffs track program will be sending three marathoners to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships marathon. They qualified at the Covenant Health half-marathon on Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Two Buffs, seniors Will Frye (Pulaski, Va.) and Wegene Degefa (Rochester, N.Y.) , ran qualifying times on Sunday. Degefa ran a 1:11:40.8, qualifying him for the A standard and Frye ran a B standard time of 1:16:21.3. Degefa and Frye placed first and second in their age group.

Senior Emily Schmitt (Avon, Ind.) was the lone Lady Buff in the half-marathon. She qualified with a B standard in a time of 1:33:59.0. Schmitt placed fourth in her age group.

“The primary goal was to get national marks and this was accomplished,” said track and field Head Coach Chris Layne . “This was a minor step in being ready to run a marathon.”