Milligan Captures 2024 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship

April 20, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Powered by nine individual championships, Milligan captured the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Outdoor Track & Field championship this weekend.

Milligan tallied 196 points to win its first outdoor title since 2012 and third overall.

The three-day event was hosted by Columbia International in Columbia, S.C.

Montreat finished second with 163 points with Reinhardt (141), Truett McConnell (82.5), and Columbia International (70) rounding out the top five. Making up the rest of the field are Columbia (46), Bryan (43), Pikeville (41.5), Tennessee Wesleyan (34), Union (29), SCAD Atlanta (21), Bluefield (17), and Kentucky Christian (7).

With the outdoor championship win, Milligan has completed the trifecta of winning the cross country, indoor, and outdoor championships all in the same academic year.

Dustin Blevins of Montreat was named the Meet MVP after he won gold in the long jump (7.44 meters), 100 (10.41 seconds), and triple jump (14.87 meters).

The other award winners were Zeke Hagley of Pikeville as the Freshman of the Year, Cameron Montgomery of Columbia International as the Newcomer of the Year, Bryn Woodall of Milligan as the Track Athlete of the Year, and David Friedberg of Reinhardt as the Field Athlete of the Year. The Milligan coaching staff was named the Staff of the Year.

There were only two meet records set. Dylan Branch of Montreat set the 3000 steeplechase mark with a time of 9:04.55. Meanwhile, Friedberg set the javelin record with a throw of 71.93 meters.

Here are the rest of the individual champions:

10,000 - Aaron Jones, Milligan - 31.19.61
High Jump - Payton Ellison, Union - 2.02 meters
Hammer - Evan Pugh, Pikeville - 46.88 meters
Pole Vault - Austin Wright, Reinhardt - 4.30 meters
4x100 Relay - Montreat - 40.86 seconds
4x800 Relay - Milligan - 7:48.55
110 Hurdles - Keith Fletcher, Milligan - 14.48 seconds
1500 - Woodall, Milligan - 3:51.61
400 - Romario Taylor, Milligan - 47.97 seconds
Decathlon - Reese Pesterfield, Milligan - 4786 points
Shot Put - Deandre Leith, Columbia International - 16.46 meters
Discus - Leith, Columbia International - 48.89 meters
5000 - Jones, Milligan - 15:08.11
5000 Race Walk - Wyatt Wilson, Montreat - 27:14.34
400 Hurdles - Quan Dorsey, Reinhardt - 54.93
800 - Woodall, Milligan 1:51.76
200 - Fletcher, Milligan - 21.57 seconds
4x400 Relay - Reinhardt - 3:21.33

To view the full results, click here.