Hawkeyes Head to Toledo Bubble Buster

Sept. 19, 2012

Weekly Release

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s cross country team will compete at the Toledo Bubble Buster on Friday. The event will be held at Ottawa Park in Toledo, Ohio. The 4,000 meter race is set to begin at 6:10 p.m.

IN THE RANKINGS
The women’s cross country team is ranked fourth in the USTFCCCA Regional rankings. The women also received two votes in the national poll. Four Big Ten teams are ranked in the national poll. They include Michigan (11), Michigan State (13), Penn State (19), and Minnesota (30). Wisconsin also recieved 16 votes.

LAST TIME OUT
Kayla Beattie took the title at the Bradley Open on Sept. 7. The sophomore clocked a three-mile time of 16:44 to grab the fi rst individual title of her collegiate career.

RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Beattie was recognized last Tuesday as the Big Ten Conference’s Runner of the Week after her performance at the Bradley Open. Beattie is the fi rst women’s cross country runner to win the award since Lauren Hardesty in 2012. The weekly honor is the fi rst of Beattie’s career.

HART NAMED CAPTAIN
Senior Kelsey Hart has been named the women’s cross country team captain for 2012. Hart, a native West Branch, Iowa, is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Her career-best in the 3,000 meters ranks seventh in school history.

HAWKEYES TAKE TOP FOUR
The Hawkeyes swept the top four spots in the three-mile Bradley Open. Beattie crossed the line fi rst with a time of 16:44. Graduate student Mareike Schrulle came in second with a time of 16:52, while junior captain Megan Ranegar (3rd; 17:07) and senior Nicole Benson (4th; 17:14) rounded out the pack.

FRESHMEN SHINE IN DEBUT
Freshmen Cindy Saliba and Lisa Gordon fi nished among the top 10 in their collegiete debuts at the Bradley Open. Saliba ran to a ninth place fi nish when she crossed the line in 17:50, while Gordon clocked a time of 17:56 to fi nish 10th. Freshman Courtney Martin (23rd; 18:28) also made her Hawkeye debut.

UP NEXT
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will return to action on Sept. 29. The Hawkeye women will head to Louisville, Ky. for the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic, while the men’s team will compete at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis.