TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Kirstin Hackney's final race of the cross country season wasn't much different than her previous endeavors this fall for the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes.
Hackney earned All-America honors by placing 40th at the NAIA Women's National Championship on Friday morning at Apalachee Regional Park. She ran the 6,000-meter course in 22:00.5 becoming the third All-American in the history of the program and the first since 2009.
"She ran the way that she has been most of the season - with a lot of determination," coach Garrett Young said. "I think today was more about her doing what she's done all season on the big stage, having that faith or that trust and that confidence. Moreso than it was about physical ability."
The Coyotes placed 15th in the 30-team field.
Hackney, who was third in the Kansas Conference Championship on Nov. 8 in Leavenworth, ran a strong race from start to finish, according to Young. The event featured 331 runners.
"She got out in like 35th, climbed up to 25th by 3,000 meters, had a streak where she fell back to 35th or so and then finished 40th," he said.
Kierra Jensen finished 52nd (22:17.9) for the Coyotes followed by Micah Dickens in 136th (23.13.5), Josie Koppes 156th (23.25.0), Charlee Lind 160th (23.25.9), Madisyn Ehrlich 187th (23.46.5) and Shelby Lingle 188th (23.46.7).
"We wanted to come out and take a really big swing today," Young said. "I think we were as high as fifth place as a team at 1,000 meters so I really liked the effort. I really liked the execution we saw early in the race.
"We needed things to tilt a little bit differently in our way, but I don't think anyone walks away from 15th place feeling bad or holding their head down or anything."