Led by a fifth place finish from Endalow Takele, the WKU Cross Country season opener is in the books. The Hilltoppers traveled to the Tennessee Tech-hosted Golden Eagle Invitational to kick off 2017 competition. Takele finished the men’s 6K run with a mark of 19:48.7 for a top-five finish. Julien Cuyeu crossed the line second for the Hilltoppers, coming in at 13th overall with a mark of 20:08.9. Taylor Scarbrough was WKU’s third top-20 finisher as he came in at 19th with a time of 20:25.2. Kyle Sprague crossed fourth for the Red and White, earning a reading of 22:00.2 for 31st place while Bryce Swindell rounded out the WKU runners with a time of 22:23.9 in 34th place.
WKU men finished fourth behind Auburn, Tennessee Tech and Mississippi State. Southern Illinois and Tennessee State closed out the six-team field. The Hilltoppers posted an average time of 20:57.38 at the season opener.
MEN’S RESULTS
5. Endalow Takele – 19:48.7
13. Julien Cuyeu – 20:08.9
19. Taylor Scarbrough – 20:25.2
31. Kyle Sprague – 22:00.2
34. Bryce Swindell – 22:23.0
On the women’s side, WKU saw three more top-25 finishes. Ames led the way in 20th with a time of 21:23.0 in the women’s 5K race. Brianna Wolken clocked a 22:33.3 reading to secure 24th place while Morgan Kannapel was the next finisher in 25th with a time of 23:01.2. Aairiona Hayden-Ransom was the fourth runner from The Hill to cross, finishing in 30th with a time of 25:37.0. Ariel Terrell rounded out the standings for the Lady Toppers with a time of 28:17.2 in 35th.
The Lady Toppers picked up a dual victory over Tennessee State, finishing fourth overall. Mississippi State, Auburn and Southern Illinois collected the top three spots. WKU finished with an average race time of 24:10.34.
WOMEN’S RESULTS
20. Savannah Ames – 21:23.0
24. Brianna Wolken – 22:33.3
25. Morgan Kannapel – 23:01.2
30. Aairiona Hayden-Ransom – 25:37.0
35. Ariel Terrell – 28:17.2
WKU Cross Country will return to action at the Commodore Classic in Nashville on Sept. 16.
(Courtesy WKU Athletics)