Hawkeyes Improve National Ranking

Oct. 3, 2006

IOWA CITY, IA –

The University of Iowa women’s cross country team climbed to eighth in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national poll released Tuesday. The Hawkeyes opened the season ranked 15th. It is the highest ranking for the Hawkeyes in recent history and under Head Coach Layne Anderson.

Iowa is undefeated this season. The Hawkeyes won team titles at the Auburn and Western Illinois Invitationals, and scored two dual wins at the Hawkeye Open in September. At the 24-team Auburn Invitational last weekend, Iowa outscored the runner-up host by 77 points.

Junior Diane Nukuri has led the squad. She shattered the 23-year-old 5,000-meter school record (16:36) set by NCAA champion and six-time Hawkeye all-American Nan Doak with her winning 16:10 at Auburn. Nukuri also set the school and 3,000-meter record (9:47) at the Hawkeye Open, shattering the previous mark by almost 40 seconds. Junior Meghan Armstrong (16:26), senior Shannon Stanley (16:56), freshman Jolly Burke (16:59) and junior Racheal Marchand (17:02) also placed in the top 10 at Auburn, all with collegiate-best times. Armstrong’s time ranks second in school history.

Iowa will resume competition October 14 at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, IN.

USTFCCCA Top 20 Women’s Cross Country Poll
1. Stanford
2. Michigan
3. Colorado
4. Arkansas
5. North Carolina State
6. BYU
7. Princeton
8. Iowa
9. UC Santa Barbara
10. Wisconsin
11. Providence
12. Oklahoma State
13. Florida State
14. Wake Forest
15. Washington
16. Arizona State
17. Illinois
18. Baylor
19. Minnesota
20. Duke