MEET INFOÂ
- Choccolocco Park
- Women's 6K, 8:30 A.M. CT
- Men's 8K, 9:30 A.M. CT
- Live Results
- Meet CentralÂ
- Watch
ABOUT THE TOPSÂ
- Last time out, the Hilltoppers competed in the Angel Mounds Invitational. The women took home 2nd while the men took home eighth.
- This marked 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.
- For the third time this season, Kinley Kunkel led the Tops. Her second place finish marked the second time this season the sophomore has finished in the top-five.
- Mississippi College transfer Hollis Johnson led the men's team in the 8k race, setting a PR, finishing in 25:48.
- In total, 11 Hilltoppers finished within the top-100 in their respective races with all five women finishing in the top-40.
- The biggest headline of the meet was that 12 Hilltoppers set new career bests in the final regular season meet.
QUOTABLEÂ
On the weekend's race, head coach Lee Wood said "Excited for the Conference USA Championships as we are coming off of our best performance of the year two weeks ago!" Wood also commented on the state of the program: "I know we are going into the championships a lot better than we were a year ago. I'm excited for both teams to compete hard at the meet this Saturday!"
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MEET HISTORY
- Last season, WKU hosted the 2023 CUSA Championships. The meet was held at Hobson Grove Park. The Hilltoppers also hosted the meet in 2019, that year it was held at Kereiakes Park.
- The course at Choccolocco has hosted the Alabama Community College Conference Championships, numerous AHSAA events, and the Foothills Invitational, a meet the Hilltoppers have previously competed in.
- Earlier this season, WKU competed in the Southern Showcase which was also held in Northeast Alabama (Huntsville).
- The park also houses a sports complex which plays host to the Gulf South Conference Baseball and Softball Tournaments (NCAA DII).
SCOUTING THE FIELD
- For the men's race three members of last year's first team All-CUSA squad will be in action on Saturday, including Middle Tennessee's duo of Vincent Yegon (fourth place) and Brian Kiptoo (fifth) and Liberty's Nicholas Kiprotich (seventh).
- Middle Tennessee has captured four of the last seven CUSA titles (2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023).
- In the women's 6k, three teams are ranked in their respective regions: Liberty (No. 5 in the Southeast Region), New Mexico State (No. 13 in the Mountain Region) and newcomer Kennesaw State (No. 13 in the South Region).
- Defending CUSA champion Middle Tennessee is also expected to contend for its fifth title in the last six years.
