Hawkeyes Conclude Season at NCAA Midwest Regional

Nov. 13, 2015

Men’s Complete Results | Women’s Complete Results

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Iowa cross country season came to a close Friday at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kansas. The men’s team tallied 408 points to earn 15th place, while the women (465 points) finished 19th.

“We had individual highlights, but as a group it was not what we aspired to achieve,” UI head coach Layne Anderson said. “We will use this performance as a teacher.”

Sophomore Madison Waymire highlighted the day for the Hawkeye women. The Grimes, Iowa, native completed the 6,000-meter course in 21:19.1 to finish 37th. She is the first Hawkeye to lead the team in six straight races since Sarah Arens in 2000.

“She has been consistent in her performances,” Anderson said. “By this time next year, she has a shot at being an individual national qualifier. She is definitely doing all that she needs to be doing. With more time and training, she has the ability to develop into an even better runner than she already is.”

On the men’s side, the Hawkeyes contested a new distance this season when they took to the 10,000-meter course. Junior Ben Anderson (47th) set a personal-best 31:17.9 to guide the team. Senior Anthony Gregorio (53rd/31:24.2) was Iowa’s second finisher.

The Hawkeyes finished without its Big Ten frontrunner Michael Melchert, who had to drop out of the race after losing a shoe.

“We put ourselves in a position to do well, but unfortunately, with the loss of Melchert, we didn’t finish as strongly the last six minutes of the race,” Anderson said. “At about the 5k mark, [Melchert] got stepped on and his shoe came off. I think he tried to run a little after that, but the course had too difficult of footing. It was an unfortunate circumstance, but overall I thought some of the guys got out and competed well.”

The Hawkeyes officially open the 2016 indoor track and field season at the Border Battle on Jan. 9 in Champaign, Illinois. The Black and Gold Intrasquad is scheduled for Dec. 5 at the Iowa Recreation Building.