VanDenend Qualifies for NCAA Championship Meet

Nov. 11, 2006

Minneapolis, MN – The men and women’s cross country teams traveled to Minneapolis, MN, to compete in the Midwest regional meet. The women competed in 6,000-meter race, while the men raced in the 10,000-meter race. This meet was the qualifying meet for the NCAA cross country championship meet.

Senior Micah VanDenend paced the way in the men’s 10,000-meter race and for the Hawkeyes. The senior and co-captain was the Midwest region’s individual champion with a time of 30:40. His efforts earned him a spot to compete in the NCAA championship meet. The Hawkeyes finished in third place. Their top three finish positions the Hawkeyes in a hopeful spot for an at-large bid for the championship meet. Hawkeye runners included; junior Eric MacTaggart (17th, 31:21), senior Jeff Kent (28th, 31:50), sophomore Blake Schlotzhauer (32nd, 31:55), freshman Jesse Luciano (45th, 32:11), sophomore Andy Napier (58th, 32:38) and redshirt freshman Tommy Tate (65th, 32:47). Qualifying men’s teams from the Midwest region were Oklahoma State (1st, 72 pts.) and Kansas (88 pts.).

Nukuri and VanDenend will race Monday, November 20 in Terre Haute, IN, in the NCAA championship meet. At-large bids for qualifiers in the NCAA championship meet will be announced by the Track and Field subcommittee tomorrow afternoon.

MEN’S TEAM RESULTS
(TOP FIVE)
1. Oklahoma State 72 pts.
2. Kansas 88 pts.
3. IOWA 121 pts.
4. Missouri 122 pts.
5. Iowa State 132 pts.

MEN’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
(TOP FIVE PLUS IOWA)
1. Micah VanDenend (IOWA) 30:40
2. Chris Rombough (Minnesota) 30:47
3. Jason Bill (Illinois) 30:48.29
4. Kiel Uhl (Iowa State) 30:48.79
5. Tim Ross (Missouri) 30:50
17. Eric MacTaggart (IOWA) 31:21
28. Jeff Kent (IOWA) 31:50
32. Blake Schlotzhauer (IOWA) 31:55
45. Jesse Luciano (IOWA) 32:11
58. Andy Napier (IOWA) 32:28
65. Tommy Tate (IOWA) 32:47