Nukuri wins Big Ten cross country title

Oct. 28, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio — University of Iowa senior Diane Nukuri is the Queen of Big Ten women’s cross country. Nukuri won her third race of the season Sunday — this time on the biggest stage in the league. Nukuri claimed the individual 6-kilometer championship with a school and conference-record clocking of 19-minutes, 37.6 seconds, shattering the old Big Ten mark by more than 45 seconds.

The Hawkeyes placed three runners in the top 10 and finished fifth. This was the highest finish under coach Layne Anderson and the best since 1993. Senior Meghan Armstrong (fourth, 20:08), sophomore Jolly Burke (ninth, 20:20), senior Jessica Schmidt (43rd, 21:20), sophomore Krista Anderson (53rd, 21:47), freshman Lauren Hardesty (56th, 21:52), freshman Amanda Hardesty (57th, 21:53) senior Molly Esche (70th, 22:18) and sophomore Katie Ellis (78th, 22:35) also ran for Iowa. Eight Hawkeyes had personal bests. The Minnesota Gophers left the Big Ten Championships as Big Ten champions, scoring 72 points.

Iowa’s next competition will be the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday, Nov. 10, in Peoria, Ill.

WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS
(TOP TEN)

1. Minnesota 72 points
2. Michigan State 73 points
3. Michigan 90 points
4. Illinois 95 points
5. IOWA 103 points
6. Wisconsin 112 points
7. Penn State 159 points
8. Purdue 237 points
9. Indiana 280 points
10. Northwestern 288 points
11. Ohio State 330 points

WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
(TOP FIVE PLUS IOWA)

1. Diane Nukuri (IOWA) 19:37
2. Nichole Bush (Michigan State) 19:49
3. Angela Bizzarri (Illinois) 19:59
4. Meghan Armstrong (IOWA) 20:08
5. Hanna Grinaker (Wisconsin) 20:11
9. Jolly Burke (IOWA) 20:20
43. Jessica Schmidt (IOWA) 21:20
53. Krista Anderson (IOWA) 21:47
56. Lauren Hardesty (IOWA) 21:52
57. Amanda Hardesty (IOWA) 21:53
70. Molly Esche (IOWA) 22:18
78. Katie Ellis (IOWA) 22:35

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