Western Kentucky’s Kinley Kunkel has been named to the 2024 Conference USA Women’s Cross Country All-Academic team, the league office announced Tuesday.

The Bedford 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 as a double major in biology and chemistry. 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 finish, along with Mary Dye, marked the first Hilltoppers to compete in the event since 2022.