BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The WKU women's cross country team entered the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional rankings for the first time since 2011 on Monday, coming in at 13th in the Week 4 Southeast Region poll.
The ranking comes after a solid showing at the Greater Louisville Classic, where juniors Katie Lever and Lindsey Hinken both recorded Top 30 finishes in the field of 300 runners. Lever captured 25th place with a 5K time of 17:37.39 to lead the Lady Toppers for the fourth-straight meet while Hinken was just two seconds off her personal record in her first meet of 2014.
Junior Taylor Carlin continued to be a strong No. 3 for the Lady Tops, placing 58th in the competitive field with a clocking of 18:02.06. Carlin has turned in 5K performances of 17:58 and 18:02 in her last two races, which are the top two marks of her career.
The No. 13 ranking in the Southeast Region, which is widely regarded as one of the most difficult regions in the country, marks the first time WKU has been ranked in women's cross country since Week 9 of the 2011 season. The Lady Toppers were ranked in eight of 10 weeks during the 2011 season, with their highest ranking coming at 11th.
WKU was ranked in the Southeast Region poll for the majority of the 2008-11 seasons, with its highest ranking coming at No. 8. The No. 8 ranking in the region was also reached during the 2000 season and represents the highest the program has ever been ranked.
The Lady Toppers return to action at the Evansville Invitational on Oct. 18 for their final tune up before the Conference USA Cross Country Championships. For more information on the WKU cross country teams, follow the program on Twitter at @WKUTrackField.
