KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Midway's Carson Milner sharpened an already strong national resume by breaking the Midway men's cross country 8-kilometer record at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge on Friday.

Millner ran a 24:41.2 to take 11th in a 202-man field as the Eagles finished 16th overall in a race that featured six of the top-30 teams in the nation. Midway had 407 points as a team.

No. 3 Cumberlands took first with 33 points while No. 6 Milligan (Tenn.) was second with 80. 

Led by medalist Tyler Jenkins, No. 23 Rio Grande was third with 94. No. 16 Montreat (N.C.), RV Tennessee Southern and No. 24 St. Francis (Ind.) competed as well, placing fourth, fifth and seventh respectively.

Running up towards the front with that decorated group was Milner, who narrowly edged the previous Midway record of 24:45, set by Jacob Kocis at the same race in 2022.

This is the second program record set by Milner this season, as he also ran the fastest 6K time in school history at the Panther Prowl on Sept. 5.

His next quest will be to qualify for the NAIA National Championships, which he will attempt to do at the River States Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Rio Grande, Ohio on Nov. 8.

Others to score for Midway were Connor Byrd in 109th (27:12.60), Lance Logan in 132nd (27:39.58), Jonathan Kocis in 134th (27:41.23) and Adam Higgs in 161st (28:48.47).