DALLAS – WKU Cross Country's Kinley Kunkel has been named to the 2024 Conference USA All-Academic team, the league office announced Tuesday. The Bedford, Ky. native is one of seven athletes named to the team.
Kunkel competed for the Hilltoppers in six meets this season, leading the way in three, all while maintaining a GPA of 3.89 in rigorous biology and chemistry courses. Kunkel is the first representative for the women's team since Savannah Heckman in 2021.
On the course, Kunkel set multiple personal bests and managed multiple top-10 finishes. Her sophomore campaign culminated at the CUSA Championships where she was named All-Conference USA Third Team for her 20th place finish. Kunkel also competed at the 2024 NCAA Southeast Regional. Her along with Mary Dye marked the first Hilltoppers to compete in the event since 2022.
2024 Conference USA Women's Cross Country All-Academic Team
Lexa Thompson | LA Tech | Jr. | 3.94 | Kinesiology & Health Sciences
Samantha Burmeister | Kennesaw State | So. | 4.0 | Mechanical Engineering
Marie Hostetler | Liberty | R-Sr. | 3.93 | Interior Design
Katrina Schlenker | Liberty | Jr. | 3.93 | Aeronautics
Eleanor Towe | MTSU | So. | 4.0 | Recording Industry
Hailee Gorham | MTSU | So. | 4.0 | Aerospace
Kinley Kunkel | WKU | So. | 3.89 | Biology/Chemistry
How to Follow XC/Track and Field: For complete information on WKU XC and T&F, follow the team on Twitter at WKUXCTF. The team is also on Instagram and Facebook.
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