Battista Named Men's Team Captain

Battista Named Men's Team Captain

Aug. 30, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Head Men’s Cross Country Coach Larry Wieczorek announced senior Mark Battista as team captain Monday.

“Mark has had a tremendous amount of success on the cross country course and he represents everything I’d expect a Hawkeye captain to be off the course,” said Wieczorek. “He’s a great leader and I know his teammates will rally behind him throughout the season.”

Battista, a native of New Lenox, IL, was an All-Region honoree in 2009 after placing 25th at the NCAA Regional with a career best time of 31:42 in the 10,000 meters. Battista is a three-time USTFCCCA academic All-American.

The Hawkeyes open the season Friday with the annual Hawkeye Invitational at the Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City. The women’s 3K will begin at 6 p.m. and the men’s 6K will begin around 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.