CULLOWHEE, NC (April 21, 2006) --- Milligan sophomore Kortney Goulds (Johnson City, Tenn.) won the 800 meters (2:21.62), the 1500 meters (4:50.54) and ran the second leg of the of the winning 4 x 400 meter relay team at the 2006 Appalachian Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The inaugural championships were held in conjunction with the Catamount Classic Friday afternoon in Cullowhee, N.C.
The Lady Buffs again dominated the women's middle-distance and distance events, taking first or second place in the 400 meters, 800 meters, 1500 meters, and 5000 meters. The 4 x 400 meter relay team of Jacklyn Talbert (Mt. Carmel, Tenn.), Goulds, Kristen Bartlett (Simseropol, Ukraine), and Brittany Bales (Kingsport, Tenn.) were also victorious in a new school record time.
"We're another year away from expanding our track team to include depth in the sprints, hurdles, and field events, so this meet was about quality performances and preparation for nationals," said Milligan head coach Chris Layne.
Talbert, a freshman, finished second behind Goulds in the 800 and 1500 meters. Sophomore Erika Fox (Gambrills, Md.) ran her third personal best this season (5:13) in the 1500 meters to finish fifth, while freshman Ashley Pearce (St. Cloud, Fla.) also recorded a personal best of 5:15 in the 1500 meters. Sophomore Lindsey Davis (Johnson City, Tenn.) picked up fourth place points in the 800 meters and also recorded a lifetime best.
In the women's 5000 meters, senior Marta Zimon (Lodz, Poland) bounced back from an early season injury to finish 2nd, while freshman Nicole Moore (Boise, Id.) recorded a lifetime best to finish fifth.
In the women's sprints, Bales finished 2nd in the 400 meters, while Bartlett finished 4th in both the 100 meters and 200 meters.
Freshman Will Frye (Pulaski, Va.) led the Buffaloes with a win in the 3000 meter steeplechase, while senior All-American Chris Wright (Ocean City, Md.) bounced back from a disappointing run at the Sea Ray Relays and scored a second-place finish in the 5000 meters, just missing the national qualifying time by .55 of a second in 15:12.55.
Science Hill alum Jair Collie (Johnson City, Tenn.) finished fourth in the 800 meters and fifth in the 1500 meters in a new personal best time of 4:10. Freshman Robert Newlin (Nashville, Ind.) finished third in the shot put.
King College won the overall men's and women's title, while Milligan's men finished fourth.
Both squads will have next weekend off before continuing their preparations for the NAIA Outdoor Nationals in Fresno, Ca. late May.