BREVARD, N.C. – On Friday evening, Milligan University's No. 2-ranked men's cross-country squad took part in the Brevard XC Classic 8k hosted by Brevard College in Brevard, N.C.

The Buffalo men claimed three of the top 30 finishers en route to a total of 171 points, placing sixth out of the 15 teams in attendance. The top-five placing teams were Tusculum, Emory & Henry, North Greenville, Newberry, and Presbyterian. 

Noah Smith led the charge with a 13th place finish, clocking in at 28:02.22. Daniel Hornbuckle had the next lowest time finishing eleven spots and twenty-five seconds behind Smith in 24th with a mark of 28:27.28. 

"Noah Smith led the way for the men," head coach Chris Layne stated, "and I know he has a lot more in the tank once he gets used to this distance."

Elijah Gouge (28:37.68, 30th) and Joshua Starr (25:49.68, 52nd) were the next pair of Buffs to cross the finish line, and they posted the third and fourth counting times toward the team score. 

Andrew Whaley (30:34.03, 73rd) and Talan Hammack (30:36.09, 75th) were nearly two-and-a-half seconds apart, as Whaley counted as the final score for Milligan on the evening.

Jaiden Carmichael (96th, 31:46.40) and Benjamin Cox (117th, 36:16.73) rounded out the competitors for Milligan. 

"For a lot of our folks on both sides, this was a college debut or season opener," Layne continued, "so it was a great opportunity to get a good read on where things stand."

Up next for Milligan is the Eli Cramer Invitational. which the Buffs will host at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, Tenn. on Friday Sept. 26. The men will get started that evening at 6:15 p.m.

RESULTS