SEWARD, Neb. – A standout sophomore, Kylahn Heritage led Concordia Women’s Cross Country to a meet title at last week’s Dean White Invite. As a result, Heritage has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Cross Country Runner of the Week, as announced by the conference on Wednesday (Sept. 30). This marks the first career weekly award for Heritage.
The native of Nampa, Idaho, completed the 5k race at the Dean White Invite in 19:48.87. She placed second among 76 runners at the meet (finishing behind only an unattached competitor). It was a successful return to competition for Heritage, who missed the Bronco Stampede two weeks earlier. Heritage had previously ran at the Dordt Sunflower Open (Sept. 5). She placed 16th with a time of 19:16.21 at that particular meet.
Heritage is already an accomplished collegiate runner having placed as the GPAC Championships meet runner up as a freshman. She played a key role in the 2019 team conference championship and 12th-place NAIA national finish. Individually, Heritage placed 33rd (18:42.4) at the 2019 national meet.
Three Bulldog women’s cross country athletes collected GPAC Runner of the Week awards in 2019: Rebekah Hinrichs, Amie Martin and Bailie Vanarsdall.
Head Coach Matt Beisel’s cross country squads will return to action on Saturday at the Briar Cliff Invite. The women’s race is set to go off at 10 a.m. CT from Adams Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, S.D.