For the second time this season, Kinley Kunkel led the way for WKU, cracking the top-50, placing 48th. Senior Mary Dye followed behind in 64th place. In the men's race, for the first time this season a freshman led the way in Jake Younger.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first race, the women's 5k, WKU competed against the likes of Clemson, Louisville, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
Kinley Kunkel took the charge, finishing in 17:53. Mary Dye followed behind with a 64th place finish. Addie Frisch, Kalina Urbaniak, and Arielle Johnson followed suit for the second consecutive meet.
For the men, in the second 8k race of the season, freshman Jake Younger led the way. The Yorkville, Ill. native finished in 26:09. Jared Sandfoss followed behind, taking 97th. Junior transfer Hollis Johnson made his first appearance for WKU, finishing with the third best Hilltopper time of 26:34.
The men claimed a 19th place finish in their 8k race while the women claimed 25th in the 5k race.
NOTABLES
- For the second time this season, Kinley Kunkel led the Tops. This marks the second time this season Kunkel has done so, finishing within the top 50 both times.
- Kunkel's time of 17:53 is a PR for the Bedford, Ky. native.
- 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.
- Four different Hilltoppers have led WKU in the three races this season. Last year only two did so in five meets.
- Transfer Hollis Johnson competed for WKU for the first time this season.
- In total, four Hilltoppers finished within the top-100 in their respective races.
QUOTABLE
On the performance, head coach Lee Wood said "We had some athletes that competed hard today and we're excited for the progress. Our front two ladies, Kinley Kunkel and Mary Dye led the women with great finishes."
Wood added, "On the men's side, we had some bright spots with Jake Younger (freshman) who competed really well. Hollis Johnson is back from injury and ran well in his first meet back."
- West Virginia - 36
- Clemson - 100
- Ohio - 122
- West Texas A&M - 147
- South Carolina - 165
Team Results - Men
- Xavier - 69
- Charlotte - 99
- Duquesne - 189
- Hope - 201
- Evansville - 230
Individual Results - Women
43rd - Kinley Kunkel - 17:53*
64th - Mary Dye - 18:03
173rd - Addie Frisch - 19:11
218th - Kalina Urbaniak - 19:43
240th - Arielle Phillips - 20:07
Individual Results - Men
73rd - Jake Younger - 26:09*
97th - Jared Sandfoss - 26:23
110th - Hollis Johnson - 26:34
137th - Wade Balcom - 26:52
142nd - Trevor Hudnall - 26:53
144th - Michael House - 26:54
158th - Tyler Pfefferkorn - 27:06
169th - Cates Duncan - 27:13
201st - Parker Smith - 27:37
The Hilltoppers will head to Evansville, Indiana for the Angel Mounds Invitational slated to run the morning of October 18.
