WKU’s cross country teams completed their season Saturday at the Conference USA Championship in Boca Raton, Florida.

The WKU men’s team finished ninth out of 11 schools while the women’s squad came in 12th out of 13.

Head coach Erik Jenkins said the event showed his young runners what “division one racing was really like.” He also believes experience like this will be crucial to the Toppers success next season.

“Not redshirting younger runners will offer dividends in the future,” Jenkins said.

Sophomore Haley Webb led the Lady Toppers with a 5K time of 19 minutes, 47.96 seconds in her second meet for WKU this season, coming in 71st out of 103 runners.

Junior Brianna Wolken finished 90th, clocking in at 21:05.73. The Lady Toppers’ other four runners—sophomore Morgan Kannapel, freshman Savannah Heckman, freshman Heather Whitlow, and sophomore Aairiona Hayden-Ransom—all also finished in the 90s.

The men’s team, composed of five freshman, was led by Emerson Wells who finished 49th out of 85 runners with an 8K time of 27:04.91.

Reporter Cameron Coyle can be reached at 270-745-6291 or [email protected].