Fresh off one of the most accomplished years in program history, Milligan University cross country and track and field head coach Chris Layne welcomes 25 newcomers to his programs for the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.
Milligan’s cross country and track and field programs produced four individual national titles, 19 All-Americans and six top 25 team finishes at NAIA championships in 2020-21. Milligan’s women’s cross country and track and field programs tied for third in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings and the men were seventh.
This crop of newcomers includes 16 men and nine women, hailing from six different states with one international signee.
Will Stockley joins the Buffs from St. Mary’s University in London, England and the Belgrave Harriers athletic club. He’s set personal bests in the 800 (1:54.83), 1500 (3:53.15), 3k (8:31.45) and 5k (14:53.09) in the last six months.
Milligan track and field has found tremendous success with British athletes in recent memory. Stockley follows in the footsteps of UK natives Hannah Segrave, Nathan Baker and Emily Kearney, all of whom captured multiple individual NAIA national championships with the Buffs.
Knoxville, Tennessee natives Zimri Kuhn and Alex Brittain look to bolster the Buffs’ cross country and distance unit. Kuhn enters Milligan with a 16:04 5k (XC) personal record and finished ninth at the 2020 Homeschool Cross Country Nationals. Brittain posts a cross country 5k PR of 16:24 and finished fifth in the 1600m (4:26.67) at the 2021 Outdoor Track & Field TSSAA State Championships.
Sylas Chambers makes his way to eastern Tennessee from Greely, Colorado. The Frontier Academy product took sixth at Colorado’s 3A state cross country championships with a 5k cross country PR of 16:22.
Jack Parmer from (Lascassas, TN/Oakland HS) took 14th at the TSSAA state meet in the 3200m (10:02.80) and brings a cross country 5k time of 16:51.
Corey Greeson (Murfreesboro, TN/Central Magnet) in looks to strengthen the Buffs’ throwing crew. He finished fourth in discus and 12th in shot put at the state championship meet. He posted PRs in discus (150 ft, 4 in) and shot put (46 ft, 10 in) during the 2021 outdoor season.
On the women’s side, several TSSAA state cross country qualifiers highlight a strong incoming distance group.
Rachel Dulaney from nearby Jonesborough and David Crockett High School is a three-time top 25 finisher at the TSSAA state cross country championship meets and has a cross country 5k PR of 19:16.
Anna Jones (Murfreesboro, TN/Central Magnet School) and Annie McDermott (Cookeville, TN/Cookeville HS) both were four-time TSSAA state qualifiers in cross country in their high school careers. McDermott brings a cross country 5k PR of 20:21 while Jones clocks in at 20:24.
Natalie Fellers qualified for the TSSAA state cross country meet in 2020 and posted a career best 20:40 cross country 5k time during her senior season for Daniel Boone High School.
For the current list of men’s and women’s recruits, see below:
Men:
Alex Brittain (Distances), Knoxville, TN/Hardin Valley
Sylas Chambers (Distances), Greeley, CO/Frontier Academy
Corey Greeson (Throws), Murfreesboro, TN/Central Magnet
Eli Hornbuckle (Distances), Roebuck, SC/ Homeschooled
Zimri Kuhn (Distances), Knoxville, TN/Homeschooled
Sam Kyker (Distances), Travelers Rest, SC/ Travelers Rest HS
Benjamin Mary (Distances), Maryville, TN/ Heritage HS
Craig Newman (Distances), Elizabethton, TN/Elizabethton HS
Josh Osorio (Distances), High Point, NC/Ragsdale HS
Will Owen (Distances), Johnson City, TN/University School/ETSU
Jack Parmer (Distances), Lascassas, TN/Oakland HS
Sam Sosobee (Distances), Dayton, TN/Rhea Co. HS
Evan Spaulding (Distances), Christiansburg, VA/Christiansburg HS
Will Stocky (Distances), Twickenham, United Kingdom/St. Mary’s University
Josh Vaughn (Distances), Murfreesboro, TN/Oakland HS
Timothy Wright (Distances), Hardy, AR/Springdale HS
Women:
Ellie Andreson (Distances), Barboursville, VA/William Monroe HS
JaDejsha Arnold (Throws), Knoxville, TN/Carter HS
Rachel Dulaney (Distances), Jonesborough, TN/David Crockett HS
Natalie Fellers (Distances), Limestone, TN/Daniel Boone HS
Anna Jones (Distances), Murfreesboro, TN/Central Magnet
Grace Krell (Distances), Telford, TN/David Crockett HS
Illiana Martinez (Throws), Erwin, TN/Unicoi Co. HS
Annie McDermott (Distances), Cookeville, TN/Cookeville HS
Marinda Walls (Distances), Gray, TN/Daniel Boone HS
