WKU Teams Shine at XC Town Twilight Meet

Western Kentucky junior Kinley Kunkel won the women’s individual title at the XC Town Twilight cross country race in Terre Haute, Indiana.

In a successful outing at the XC Town Twilight held in Terre Haute, Indiana, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams from Western Kentucky University (WKU) secured impressive victories on Friday night.

Women’s Race Highlights

Junior runner Kinley Kunkel took the spotlight by clinching the individual championship in the women’s 6k event. Her performance was notable as she finished just five seconds shy of her personal best on a challenging course. Kunkel’s teammates also contributed significantly, forming a cohesive pack that executed their race strategy effectively.

“Kinley was five seconds from her PR on a course that didn’t run particularly fast and she is looking very promising,” said WKU coach Lee Wood. “All of the girls complemented each other and ran as a pack. They got out and executed. Really proud. Sofia [Witt] set a new PR by two minutes and Tatum [Maschhoff] by nearly a minute. We are still putting the pieces together, but I really like where we are at,” he added.

Men’s Race Highlights

The men’s team showcased outstanding performance in their 8k race, with eight Hilltoppers finishing in the top ten. Hollis Johnson led the men’s team, securing a third-place finish. Coach Wood praised their pack running, stating that it was a different competition this week, yet they adapted well to the difficulties of the course.

“I thought the guys ran well as a pack. Up front they raced well, it was a little different this week with who they were up against. The course was not a fast course and it was really good to see WKU jerseys in front and see them finish strong!”

Final Standings

The men’s team finished with a total of 25 points, significantly ahead of the next competitor, marking a strong performance overall. The women’s team also excelled, finishing with 20 points, which was 67 points better than their closest rival.

Noteworthy Performances

• Women’s Results (6k):
  • 1st – Kinley Kunkel – 21:20.60
  • 4th – Brooke Greenwell – 22:51.80
  • 5th – Maggie May – 23:00.40
  • 6th – Caterina Rossomanno – 23:19.60
  • 8th – Kathryn Harris – 23:29.00
  • 12th – Sofia Witt – 24:11.40*
  • 25th – Tatum Maschhoff – 25:05.90*
• Men’s Results (8k):
  • 3rd – Hollis Johnson – 25:54.80
  • 4th – Jake Younger – 26:05.60
  • 5th – Trevor Hudnall – 26:10.20
  • 6th – Sam Herbig – 26:18.60*
  • 7th – Ryan Hendrix – 26:28.70
  • 8th – Carter Hayes – 26:42.80
  • 9th – Wade Balcom – 26:46.20
  • 10th – Bryce Revo – 26:54.60

This victory marks a significant achievement for WKU’s cross country teams, being the first team win at an event since the 2013 Evansville Invitational.

Looking ahead, both teams will compete one final time in the regular season at the Angel Mounds Invitational on October 17.