Western Kentucky’s cross country team wrapped up action at the Southern Showcase on Friday morning in Huntsville, Alabama.

Senior Mary Dye led the way for WKU with the best finish of 64th place. In the men’s race, for the second consecutive meet, Jared Sandfoss led the front.

“Mary Dye had a huge breakout performance with a personal record of 17:56 today,” WKU coach Lee Wood said in a news release. “ … Overall both teams have seen significant improvement over last year’s times and had several personal records today. It’s time for a good three-week training block before we race again in Louisville next.”

For the men, in the first 8k race of the season, Sandfoss took the lead for the Hilltoppers, finishing in 26 minutes, 13 seconds. Lipscomb transfer and Greenwood High School standout Cates Duncan made his first appearance for WKU, finishing with the second best Hilltopper time of 26:20.

Trevor Hudnall followed behind him in a personal best 26:22. Taking fourth in his Hilltopper debut, Jake Younger finished in 26:39. In total, the men claimed 23rd place.

In the second race of the day, the women’s 8k, Dye led the way, claiming 64th place, finishing in 17:56. Kinley Kunkel finished in 18:38 for the second consecutive meet.

Addie Frisch followed right behind Kunkel, improving her 5k time by a minute, finishing in 19:16. Their performances guided the women to a 23rd place finish, above the likes of Kennesaw State, Memphis and Troy.

The Hilltoppers will head to Louisville for the Live in Lou Classic slated to run the morning of Oct. 5.

Team Results – Women

Alabama – 52

Louisville – 68

Georgia Tech – 86

Belmont – 116

Vanderbilt – 125

23. WKU – 671

Team Results – Men

Alabama – 41

Belmont – 107

Georgia Tech – 126

Kentucky – 142

Georgia – 153

23. WKU – 694

Individual Results – Women

• 64th – Mary Dye – 17:56

133rd – Kinley Kunkel – 18:38

199th – Addie Frisch – 19:16

252nd – Kalina Urbaniak – 19:54

260th – Arielle Phillips – 20:04

Individual Results – Men

164th – Jared Sandfoss – 26:13

178th – Cates Duncan – 26:20

• 180th – Trevor Hudnall – 26:22

199th – Jake Younger – 26:39

• 223rd – Michael House – 26:54

259th – Wade Balcom – 27:18

282nd – Sam Brophy – 27:44{&end}