Nationally-Ranked Hawkeyes Set to Hit the Road

Sept. 29, 2011

Weekly Release

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s cross country team will compete at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Saturday in Chicago. The 5K event will take place at the Montrose Avenue Beach, beginning at 12 p.m.

HEAVY COMPETITION
The Hawkeyes will face tough competition this Saturday at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational. They will be competing against 52 other teams., including Big Ten foes Illinois, Michigan State, and Wisconsin.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked fourth in the USTFCCCA Midwest Region. Nationally, the Hawkeyes moved up one spot to No. 27. Michigan State, an opponent in Saturday’s meet, is ranked 19th.

FLOOD WILL MAKE FIRST 2011 APPEARENCE
Iowa senior Betsy Flood will make her season debut at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational. Flood, an all-region and second-team All-Big Ten selection last season, is coming off a NCAA Championship appearance where she finished 66th out of 253 competitors with a time of 21:06.

MELANDER/ EILERS BACK IN ACTION
Senior McKenzie Melander will also make her first appearance of the 2011 season for the Hawkeyes. Melander is coming off a collegiate best performance at the NCAA Regional where she finished 27th with a time of 20:56. Senior Brooke Eilers will return to the course this Saturday. Eilers competed in every meet for the Hawkeyes last season where she finished among the top three at both the Hawkeye and Iowa Invitational.

BEATTIE MAKES COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Iowa freshman Kayla Beattie will make her collegiate debut in Chicago. The Woodstock, Ill., native was a USA Today All-USA high school track and field team selection and a 2011 Pan-Am Games participant.

UP NEXT
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will return to action on Oct. 14. The Hawkeye women’s team will head to Madison, Wis., for the Wisconsin Inter-Regional, while the men’s team will compete at the Panorama Farms Invitational in Charlottesville, Va.