Kunkel Leads the Way for Hilltoppers in Belmont Opener

Friday, August 30

Nashville, TN

Western Kentucky University

Belmont Opener

8/30/2024 12:06:00 PM | Cross Country

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – WKU Cross Country wrapped up action at the Belmont Opener Friday morning.

To the likes of last season, sophomore's Kinley Kunkel and Jared Sandfoss led the way for the Hilltoppers. Kunkel managed to finish inside the top-five, guiding the women to a fourth place finish. The men took home fifth place in their 5k race.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first race of the day, the women's 5k, Kunkel picked up where she left off last season and led the charge for the Tops, claiming fifth, finishing in 18:38. Mary Dye also finished within the top-10, taking eighth place.

Evansville transfer Kalina Urbaniak became the third Hilltopper to finish in the top-25, finishing in 19:42, good for 24th place.

In the men's race, Sandfoss continued his good fortunes from last season, leading the front for WKU, taking 27th. Three Hilltoppers followed right behind in Trevor Hudnall, Michael House, and Sam Brophy.

NOTABLES

Kinley Kunkel led the women's team for the sixth consecutive race in the season opening meet.
In last season's women's 5k, no WKU runner cracked the top-40. This year two finished in the top-10 in Dye and Kunkel.
In the men's 5k, Sandfoss led the way again for WKU, taking 27th.
Four Hilltoppers finished in the top-30 in the men's race, last season the top finisher for the Red and White took 37th.

QUOTABLE
"On the women's side, I was really pleased with where we were up front. The ladies are working hard and just need to focus on a little more depth," said head coach Lee Wood. "We also had several women finish 1-2 minutes faster than last year in this same meet."

"The men just packed up and ran the race as a little rust buster and just used it to focus on the power of a team and using it as an advantage", Wood added.

TEAM RESULTS - WOMEN

Vanderbilt - 32
Belmont - 54
Tennessee Tech - 68
WKU - 94
Lipscomb - 138

TEAM RESULTS - MEN

Belmont - 25
Vanderbilt - 43
Lipscomb - 84
Tennessee Tech - 94
WKU - 121

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS - WOMEN
5th - Kinley Kunkel - 18:38
8th - Mary Dye - 18:41
24th - Kalina Urbaniak - 19:42
29th - Arielle Phillips - 19:49
31st - Addie Frisch - 20:16
43rd - Ava Galloway - 22:17

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS - MEN
27th - Jared Sandfoss - 16:24
28th - Trevor Hudnall - 16:29
29th - Michael House - 16:30
30th - Sam Brophy - 16:34
32nd - Wade Balcom - 16:43
40th - Tyler Pfefferkorn - 17:11

The Hilltoppers will head to Huntsville, Alabama for the Southern Showcase slated to run the morning of September 13.