MEMPHIS, Tenn. – WKU Cross Country opened its season with top-10 team finishes by both the women's and men's squads at the Memphis Twilight Classic on Saturday night at the Mike Rose Complex.
The women's squad placed fifth out of 22 teams with an average 5K time of 18:55.17, finishing ahead of schools such as Memphis, Mississippi State and UAB. The men's squad finished 9th in its 20-team field with an average 6.4K mark of 21:06.94, while also placing in front of Power 5 opponent Mississippi State.
"I'm really proud of how the women performed tonight," said cross country head coach Brooks LeCompte following the meet. "Placing fifth as a team against this level of competition speaks volumes to the work they've put in over the summer months. Savannah [Heckman] ran extremely well, leading us with a seventh-place finish. I can't be more excited for them.
"The guys ran solid and kept close to each other. We will have to keep progressing together as a group and I see big things ahead for them as the season continues."
The women's squad was led by Savannah Heckman, who placed seventh out of 193 runners after recording a personal record time of 17:54.66. Lucy Rutherford followed behind Heckman with a PR of her own, placing 24th with a mark of 18:35.51. Freshman Elyssa Toal rounded out the top-50 finishers on the women's side, placing 32nd with a time of 18:59.91.
WKU Women's Results
5th – Team – 18:55.17 avg.
7th – Savannah Heckman – 17:54.66 (PR)
24th – Lucy Rutherford – 18:35.51 (PR)
32nd – Elyssa Toal – 18:59.91
53rd – Mary Dye – 19:32.68
54th – Rory O'Connor – 19:33.09
92nd – Maddy Hurt – 20:23.86
118th – Madeline Powell – 20:58.97
140th – Abigail Green – 21:46.03
142nd – Jenna Vaughn – 21:51.34
166th – Lauren Dowd – 23:09.78
On the men's side, Dedrick Troxell paced the team with a PR of 20:11.02, good for 17th out of the 211-competitor field. Keegan Barnette also earned a top-50 finish in his first meet as a Hilltopper, placing 41st with a mark of 20:46.17.
WKU Men's Results
9th – Team – 21:06.94 avg.
17th – Dedrick Troxell – 20:11.02 (PR)
41st – Keegan Barnette – 20:46.17
68th – Brad Wiggins – 21:19.17
80th – Will Perrone – 21:37.18
84th – Trey Kraimer – 21:41.16
85th – Miles Huff – 21:41.18
99th – Collin Pruitt – 21:58.79
141st – Jordan Eddy – 22:46.51
153rd – Steven Votaw – 23:10.67
WKU will be back in action in two weeks when it heads to Nashville, Tenn., for the Vanderbilt-hosted Commodore Classic on Friday, Sept. 17.
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