Oct. 14, 2015
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country teams travel to Peoria, Illinois, for the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday. The men toe the 8,000-meter start line at 4:25 p.m. (CT), while the women’s 6,000-meter race begins at 5:05 p.m. The event is hosted at the Newman Golf Course on the campus of Bradley University.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Hawkeye women are slotted at No. 15 in the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association regional polls.
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LAST TIME OUT
Three Hawkeyes – sophomores Madison Waymire (17:22.7) and Kelly Breen (18:19.4), and freshman Andrea Shine (18:21.2) – recorded personal bests in the women’s 5,000-meter race at the Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 2. Waymire was Iowa’s leader, finishing 47th overall. Sophomore Michael Melchert was the top finisher of the men’s team in the five-mile race (61st/24:46.8).
WAYMIRE CONTINUES TO PAVE THE WAY
Sophomore Madison Waymire is the first Hawkeye to lead the team in at least three races in a single season since All-American Mareike Schrulle in 2012. The Grimes, Iowa, native captured two top-five finishes in the first two outings this season and improved her 5,000-meter time by 30 seconds at the Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 2.
NEW YEAR, NEW DYNAMICS
It still remains a race to the front for the Iowa men, who have had three different frontrunners in as many outings this season (Fr. Ian Eklin/Early Bird Invite; Sr. Anthony Gregorio/Illinois State Invite; So. Michael Melchert/Notre Dame Invite). Last year, the Hawkeyes were consistently led by All-Big Ten honoree Kevin Lewis.
CAPTAINS REMAIN CONSISTENT
Junior captains Ben Anderson and Tess Wilberding have been among Iowa’s top three finishers in every race this season. The pair tallied two top-15 finishes at both the Early Bird Invitational and the Illinois State Invitational, and finished second for Iowa at the Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 2.
PREP FOR B1G CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Bradley Pink Classic is the second run-in for the men’s team at the 8,000 meters prior to the Big Ten Championships on Nov. 1. Senior Anthony Gregorio holds the team’s season-best time (25:07.3) at that distance following his ninth-place finish at the Illinois State Invitational on Sept. 11. Friday is the first encounter for the Iowa women at the 6,000-meter distance this season.
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH Layne Anderson
“We are excited to compete and readily assess our fitness. Our focus is to run at a level reflective of our training and progress with positive momentum in preparation for the championship portion of the schedule.”
UP NEXT: BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Hawkeyes head to the Big Ten Championships on Nov. 1 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
