Three Individiual Champions from AAC at Men's Indoor; Milligan Places in Top 10

March 8, 2021

YANKTON, S.D. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) saw three of its student-athletes earn individual national championships at the 2021 NAIA Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship Meet over the weekend with Milligan being the highest-placing team, coming in eighth overall.

Milligan tallied 26 total points to place eighth, while Tennessee Wesleyan (16 points) and Columbia International (15 points) finished 15th and 17th, respectively, to give the AAC three teams in the top 20. Montreat (12 points) placed 24th with Union (8 points) and Kentucky Christian (5 points) finishing 37th and 47th, respectively.

John Hunter James of Columbia International won the national championship in the pole vault in clearing a height of 5.25 meters.

Tim Thacker and Nathan Baker of Milligan each won national championships. Thacker won the mile with a time of 4:12.25, while Baker won the 3000 with a time of 8:35.75.

A total of 17 individuals earned NAIA All-American Honors. Joining James, Thacker, and Baker are:

Race Walk - Brandon Bacon (Columbia International), sixth, 14:15.84; Nathaniel Wilburn (Columbia International), seventh, 14:17.21;
60 meter dash - Kenny Benton (Tennessee Wesleyan), third, 6.82;
200 meter dash - Benton (Tennessee Wesleyan), sixth, 21.88;
800 meter - Dylan Branch (Montreat), seventh, 1:55.74;
Mile - Evan Leist (Kentucky Christian), fourth, 4:17.88;
3000 meter - Jake Crow (Milligan), eighth, 8:49.60
Distance medley relay - Milligan (Baker, Ethan Pfister, Sam Wehner, Thacker), fourth, 10:11.62;
Long jump - Dustin Blevins (Montreat), fourth, 7.20 meters; Shariq Dodd (Tennessee Wesleyan), sixth, 6.99 meters;
Triple jump - Myles Lincoln (Union), second 14.71 meters; Jacob Prater (Montreat), fourth, 14.66 meters, Tevon Shuler (Tennessee Wesleyan), fifth, 14.47 meters.

For complete results, click here.