CLEVELAND, Tenn. – On Saturday afternoon, the Milligan University track and field programs competed in the Lee Last Chance Meet, hosted in Cleveland, Tennessee, as a final chance to qualify for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Buffs sent a small contingent to the meet, taking the line against a loaded field featuring numerous programs across multiple divisions.
Luis Peralta highlighted the Milligan effort on the day by clocking in at 1:48.11 in the men's 800-meter run to win the event, setting a new Milligan school record and the Lee Last Chance meet record in the process. The mark slots him at No. 2 in the NAIA for the 2026 outdoor season and clears the NAIA "A" standard of 1:50.59 with room to spare. The men's 800m field also featured
Carter Windham, who finished 24th, and
Evan Holbrook, who took 28th.
On the women's side of the 800m,
Gabriella Hoover paced the Buffs with a 12th-place finish, crossing in 2:20.87 to set a new personal best.
Sophia Jeffers finished in 19th, and
Kerigan Lewis followed in 20th.
Marti Molins Rallo also posted a statement performance, running 3:48.66 in the men's 1500m run to take seventh and clear the NAIA "A" qualifying standard of 3:49.00. The mark moves him to No. 11 in the NAIA for the 2026 outdoor season, while Aaron Gottlied followed in 13th.
Ellen-Mary Kearney led the women in the 1500m with a runner-up finish in 4:26.26, clearing the NAIA "A" standard of 4:28.00. Kaylee Coll added a 12th-place finish.
In the men's 5000m, Caleb Greene crossed 10th in 14:49.53 to land at No. 47 in the NAIA for the season. Bryson Lewis followed in 23rd.
On the women's side in the 5000m, Karly Wilhjelm placed fourth in 17:22.34 to slot in at No. 25 nationally, with Joanna Halterman seventh in 17:30.90 and Kirsten Geary 15th.
In the men's 110-meter hurdles,
Brayden Simpson placed sixth, while
Kenny Carlton followed in seventh, clocking a personal-best 15.02. Carlton later returned for the 400-meter hurdles and finished 12th.
The throws circle belonged to
Trevor Sinard, who has already cleared the NAIA "B" qualifying standard in the discus this season. Sinard placed fourth in the discus and added a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw.
Landry Buckles backed him up in the discus to take fifth.
Next Up, The Buffs will head to Asheville, North Carolina, for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 20-22, with 10 Milligan athletes having posted NAIA qualifying marks across individual events and relays.
