After finishing sixth in last year’s Great Midwest Championship meet, Ackley emerged as one of the names to keep an eye on while getting ready for the 2020 season.
The junior captain only validated those predictions with a first-place finish at the Hillsdale Invitational on Saturday, a race with five other league member institutions in the field.
Ackley toured the 6K course in 22:07, nine seconds paced ahead of runner-up Alexa Leppelmeier of Walsh at 22:16.
Ackley was a first team all-conference performer after finishing with a 21:09.60 at last year’s conference meet.
This is Ackley’s second career conference weekly honor. She was also recognized as a freshman in 2018 with a fourth-place finish and team title at the Gettysburg Invitational.
The Yellow Jackets will next host the Cedarville Open on Saturday the 26th at the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course. The race is a 5K distance.