For the third time this season, Kinley Kunkel led the way for WKU, taking second place in the women's 6k race. Senior Mary Dye followed suit, also in the top five, finishing third. In the men's race, for the first time this season, Mississippi College transfer Hollis Johnson led the charge.
HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
For the men, for the first time this season Hollis Johnson led the way for the Red and White. Jared Sandfoss followed behind, taking 57th. In total, seven men had personal records in the 8k race.Â
The improved finish led the Tops to an eighth place finish in the first race of the day.
In the second race, the women's 6k, WKU claimed a second place finish with 99 points following right behind host Southern Indiana.
Kinley Kunkel took the charge, finishing in 21:15. Mary Dye also scratched the top-five finishing right behind Kunkel in third. Addie Frisch finished within the top-20 while Kalina Urbaniak and Arielle Phillips managed top-40 finishes, earning the women a season best second place team finish.
In total, 12 Hilltoppers managed to set new personal bests in the morning's races.Â
Â
NOTABLESÂ
- For the third time this season, Kinley Kunkel led the Tops. Her second place finish marks not only a PR but the second time the sophomore has finished within the top-10.
- Senior Mary Dye followed suit, claiming a third place finish, setting a new PR in her fourth race of the season.
- Mississippi College transfer Hollis Johnson led the men's team in the 8k race, setting a PR, finishing in 25:48.
- Jared Sandfoss also managed a career day, claiming 57th in the men's race.
- 12 Hilltoppers set new career bests in the final regular season meet.
- For the first time this season a freshman finished in front for the men. Jake Younger led the way, setting a new PR in the 8k race.Â
- Five different Hilltoppers have led WKU in the three races this season. Last year only two did so in five meets.
- In total, 11 Hilltoppers finished within the top-100 in their respective races with all five women finishing in the top-40.
- This marks the second time this season both teams finished within the top-10 in their respective races. The women took fourth in the season opener and second in the final meet of the regular season.
QUOTABLEÂ
On the performance, head coach Lee Wood said "Men started off with almost the entire team getting a personal best! The men looked very solid and much better this week!"Â
Wood added, "The ladies ran amazing! First meet where we had all of our top 5 women run great! Kinley Kunkel and Mary Dye ran lights out and ran strong and confident from the gun! This is a great sign that we are hitting our stride at the perfect time of the year!"Â
Team Results - WomenÂ
- Southern Indiana - 52
- WKU - 99
- SEMO - 114
- Murray State - 129
- Lipscomb - 142
Team Results - Men
- Bellarmine - 42
- Lipscomb - 69
- Southern Indiana - 74
- SEMO - 93
- UT Martin - 118
Individual Results - Women
2nd - Kinley Kunkel - 21:15*
3rd - Mary Dye - 12:19*
19th - Addie Frisch - 22:34*
39th - Kalina Urbaniak - 23:06*
40th - Arielle Phillips - 23:06*
Individual Results - MenÂ
53rd - Hollis Johnson - 25:48*
57th - Jared Sandfoss - 25:53*
61st - Wade Balcom - 25:56*
71st - Trevor Hudnall - 26:04*
74th - Cates Duncan - 26:06*
80th - Michael House - 26:13*
121st - Parker Smith - 26:59*
132nd - Tyler Pfefferkorn - 27:20
The Hilltoppers will head to Jacksonville, Ala. for the Conference USA Championships slated to run the morning of Nov. 2.Â
