WICHITA – Kirstin Hackney's 29th place finish helped lead the Kansas Wesleyan Women's Cross Country team to a fifth place finish at the JK Gold Invitational hosted by Wichita State University at Clapp Park.
 
The Coyotes were the top finishing NAIA team at the event and placed all five scoring runners across the line before another athlete from an NAIA school crossed the line.
 
The field was filled with teams from all divisions, including NCAA Division I teams Oklahoma and Wichita State, and top Division II teams in Fort Hays State and Washburn, along with NJCAA teams and other NAIA teams.
 
Hackney completed the 5K circuit in 20:04.70 to pace the KWU finishers. Madisyn Ehrlich was 31st in 20:07.97, Kierra Jensen was 37th in 20:17.90, Josie Koppes was 45th in 20:33.76, Shelby Lingle was 45th in 20:42.29, Hailey Nordhus was 46th in 20:46.36 and Micah Dickens was 51st in 20:51.02.
 
Makayla Little was 59th in 21:11.64, Charlee Lind was 61st in 21:29.32, Mya Schweitzer was 65th in 21:39.61, Emma McAlister was 68th in 21:48.25, Ava Kenyon was 97th in 24:25.62, Lauryn Mikkelson was 98th in 24:25.77, and Taytum Reed was 110th in 27:47.98.
 
Kenyon, Mikkelson and Reed joined the team from the track and field squad for the meet.
 
The University of Oklahoma was the team champion with 29 points, followed by Fort Hays State with 52, Wichita State with 58, Washburn with 109, and KWU with 160. Butler CC was sixth with 171, Emporia State was seventh with 191.
 
Fort Hays State's Emily McCullough was the individual champion in a time of 18:11.02.
 
The Coyotes will be back in action next weekend at the Muthama-Rogers Invitational hosted by Bethel College in North Newton.