Three former KMAlanders have officially earned All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) honors following their standout performances at the conference meet this past Saturday.
According to reporting from kmaland.com, athletes Hailey Hengtgen, Kristen Billings, and Estefana Beisswenger finished in the top 15, establishing themselves among the conference’s elite runners.
Many athletes fail to transition from regional high school competition to the collegiate stage, making these individual honors particularly notable for the athletes and their respective programs. For these three runners, the conference meet served as a validation of their training cycles, with each securing a placement that qualified them for All-GPAC recognition.
The race results, as detailed by kmaland.com, highlight a tight window of performance among the top finishers. Hailey Hengtgen, currently a freshman competing for Doane, led the local contingent with a seventh-place finish, crossing the line in 22:01.1. Her performance was closely followed by Auburn alumna Kristen Billings, who claimed 11th place with a time of 22:24.7.
Rounding out the trio, former Audubon runner Estefana Beisswenger secured 14th place, clocking in at 22:35.5. While the top 15 spots were claimed by this group, the margin for error in the GPAC remains razor-thin. Allysen Johnsen, a freshman representing the College of St. Mary and a former Logan-Magnolia athlete, narrowly missed the All-GPAC cut, finishing in 16th place.
| Athlete | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hailey Hengtgen | 7th | 22:01.1 |
| Kristen Billings | 11th | 22:24.7 |
| Estefana Beisswenger | 14th | 22:35.5 |
| Allysen Johnsen | 16th | N/A |
The Great Plains Athletic Conference increases the intensity for student-athletes moving from the high school ranks. For institutions like Doane and the College of St. Mary, recruiting talent from established regional programs is a primary strategy for building depth in their cross-country rosters. The ability of freshmen like Hengtgen to immediately impact the conference standings suggests a high level of preparedness coming out of their respective high school programs.
However, the difference between an All-GPAC honor and a 16th-place finish—as seen in Johnsen’s performance—often comes down to mere seconds. This reality underscores the volatility of collegiate cross-country, where a single tactical error or a slight variance in pace can shift the final results significantly.
As these athletes look toward future seasons, the baseline established this weekend provides a clear metric for their continued development within the conference framework.
While these honors are personal achievements, they also reflect the broader pipeline of talent flowing into regional collegiate athletics. The data from Saturday’s race, which includes both men’s and women’s results, is available for review through the official conference channels for those tracking the progression of these athletes throughout the season.
Keep reading
Elise Stefanik Argues Republicans Must Rebuild in New York
Elise Stefanik Calls for New York GOP Overhaul After Election Losses Following twelve years in Congress, Representative Elise...
NYCFC Parts Ways With Head Coach Pascal Jansen After Missing Playoffs
New York City FC announced on Sunday morning that the club has parted ways with head coach Pascal...
WKU Women’s Soccer Defeats Kennesaw State to Advance to CUSA Semifinals
WKU Secures CUSA Semifinal Berth The Western Kentucky University women’s soccer team punched its ticket to the Conference...
World Atlas Highlights 6 Safest Small Communities in America
The Quietest Corners: Six American Towns With Rare Safety Records Finding a place to call home often involves...