(MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN) February 10, 2006 ----The Milligan College men's and women's indoor track teams ran to seven top five finishes at the Appalachian State Valentine's Open in Boone, NC Thursday afternoon.
Freshman Jacklyn Talbert (Mt. Carmel, Tenn.) led the way for Milligan's women with a victory and national qualifier in the 800 meters (2:21.57). Talbert also led-off the winning 4 x 400 meter relay team that set a new school record. Former Happy Valley All-state performer Kortney Goulds (Johnson City, Tenn.) finished third in the 800 meters with a new lifetime best 2:25.01 and ran the anchor leg on the record setting relay.
Sophomore Brittany Bales (Kingsport, Tenn.), along with freshman Emily Schmitt (Avon, Ind.), earned runner-up finishes in the 400 meters and mile run, respectively. Both times were personal bests, while Bales time also set a new Milligan school record. Freshman Ashley Pearce (St. Cloud, Fla.) finished third in the 400 meters and sophomore Erika Fox (Gambrills, Md.) finished fourth in the mile run.
Rounding out the top five finishes for the Lady Buffs was senior Megan Allen (Johnson City, Tenn.), who recorded a fifth place finish and lifetime best for 3000 meters.
For the Buffs, All-American senior Chris Wright (Ocean City, Md.) showed his form of old with a second place finish and national mark in the 3000 meters (8:49). Senior Brandon Talbert (Mt. Carmel, Tenn.) finished sixth in the mile run.