For the second time this season, Dye led the way for the Hilltoppers, taking 16th place. Kunkel followed suit with a top 20 finish. In the men's race, a freshman led the Hilltoppers in the championship race for the second straight year in Jake Younger.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first race of the day, the women's 6k championship, Mary Dye led the way for WKU with a 16th place finish. Kinley Kunkel followed behind, finishing in the top-20. Both Hilltoppers were named to Third Team All-CUSA. Freshman Tatum Maschhoff managed a personal best finish in the 6k as well.
As a team the Hilltoppers claimed seventh place out of 10 in the 6k race.
In the second race, the men's 8k, freshman Jake Younger led the charge for the Hilltoppers, setting a PR of 25:46. This marks the second time this season Younger has led the way.
Jared Sandfoss and Hollis Johnson followed behind Younger, claiming 42nd and 43rd respectively.
The men managed an eighth place finish for the second straight meet.
NOTABLES
- For the second time this season, Mary Dye led the Tops. The senior claimed 16th place in the women's 6k, earning her Third Team All-CUSA honors.
- Kinley Kunkel followed, taking a 20th place finish, and also qualifying for Third Team All-CUSA.
- Dye and Kunkel are the first Hilltoppers to earn all-conference honors since Savannah Heckman did so in 2021.
- Dye's 16th place finish also marks the best finish for the Hilltoppers in the CUSA Championships since Heckman finished 14th in 2021.
- For the men, Jake Younger led the way for the second time this year, setting a new PR in the 8k race, taking 35th place.
- Younger's finish marks the second consecutive season that a freshman has led the men in the CUSA Champiobnships.
- In total, three freshmen set personal bests in today's races.
- Tatum Maschhoff set a PR in the 6k race, finishing in 25:57.
- Morgantown, Ky. native Parker Smith set a new personal best in the 8k race improving his time and finishing in 26:41.
QUOTABLE
On the performance, head coach Lee Wood said "Overall both teams competed hard. Excited to see how much the teams have progressed since the conference meet last year."
On the two athletes being named All-CUSA, Wood said "Mary Dye and Kinley Kunkel had a great hard fought race and finished all-conference! These are the first all-conference finishers for either team since 2021!"
Team Results - Women
- Liberty - 28
- MTSU - 94
- Kennesaw State - 96
- New Mexico State - 107
- FIU - 121
Team Results - Men
- Liberty - 46
- MTSU - 48
- Jax State - 92
- Sam Houston - 98
- Kennesaw State - 110
Individual Results - Women
16th - Mary Dye - 21:23
20th - Kinley Kunkel - 21:29
50th - Addie Frisch - 23:06
51st - Kalina Urbaniak - 23:09
61st - Arielle Phillips - 23:45
84th - Tatum Maschhoff - 25:57*
86th - Sofia Witt - 26:58
Individual Results - Men
35th - Jake Younger - 25:46*
42nd - Jared Sandfoss - 26:06
43rd - Hollis Johnson - 26:11
46th - Trevor Hudnall - 26:15
52nd - Michael House - 26:29
56th - Cates Duncan - 26:39
57th - Parker Smith - 26:41*
60th - Wade Balcom - 26:47
