Milligan Captures 2021 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship

VANCOUVER, Wash. – [RESULTS] Milligan (Tenn.) captured its first national championship in school history by claiming the 66th Annual NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship at Fort Vancouver National Historic Championship Course on Friday.

The Buffs also took home the women's title, making them the third program in NAIA history to sweep the team titles at the National Championship.

Milligan is the second Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) program to win a national championship in men's cross country. Former member Virginia Intermont won the 2004, 2005, and 2006 titles.

The Buffs posted a team score of 115 points to beat out national runner-up St. Mary (Kan.), which finished with 175 points. Indiana Wesleyan took third with 186 points, while St. Francis (Ill.) grabbed fourth (215 points) and College of Idaho rounded out the top-five with 222 points. Fellow AAC member Montreat placed 16th with 417 points.

Five runners from the AAC placed in the top 40 to earn All-American honors. Collecting the honors from Milligan are Aaron Jones (11th), Nathan Baker (14th), Eli Cramer (20th), and Will Stockley (27th). Ethan Stamey placed 24th to earn All-American honors for Montreat.

Following the race, Milligan head coach Chris Layne was named the 2021 NAIA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year.