The Stampede

Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Derek Smallwood Coach Layne speaks at press conference.

Media Credit: Derek Smallwood President Jeanes addresses attendees at press conference.

Milligan College and the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships on Tuesday, marking the tenth year that this partnership has hosted the Nationals. The meet will be March 4-6 at the East Tennessee State University/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center, also known as the Mini-Dome.

"We are happy to partner with the Chamber in helping develop and promote this region," said Milligan President Don Jeanes during a press conference held at Milligan. "It will be good for us and good for ETSU."

"This year's participation is expected to be about the same as last year," said Milligan Vice President for Institutional Advancement Bill Greer. Last year, the event attracted approximately 3,000 visitors to the region and 1,520 athletes. According to Greer, the direct and indirect economic impact for the area has been nearly $20 million over the last nine years.

"Having this event here has been priceless for our development," said Milligan cross country/track and field head coach Chris Layne.

In spite of signing only three high school state champions in the last 10 years, Layne said that Milligan men's and women's track has had 11 top-25 national championship programs and 33 All-Americans, with 20 of them from the Indoor Nationals.

Layne introduced the athletes competing in this year's Indoor Nationals: Austin Ellis, Suzanne Johnson, Chelsea Leavell, Tanner Payne, Shanna Raines, Lauren Hubbard and France Makabu, who was not present at the news conference.

"I'm really excited for them," Milligan alumna Marta Zimon said of the athletes. Zimon won the 5,000-meter indoor national championship in 2003. She remained in the area after graduating from Milligan in 2006.

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