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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country teams split up for the first time this season and compete in two different races. One group will head to Peoria, Illinois, to compete at the Bradley Classic on Friday on the Newman Golf Course. The women’s 6,000-meters runs at 3:30 p.m. (CT) and the men’s 8,000-meters follows at 4:15 p.m.
The other group, led by seniors Ben Anderson and Tess Wilberding, will head to Terre Haute, Indiana, to compete in Pre-Nationals on Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Championships Course. The women’s 6,000-meters begins at 11 a.m. (CT) and the men’s 8,000-meters starts at 11:35 a.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Results are posted on the Iowa cross country Twitter account: @Iowa XC_TF and online at hawkeyesports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawkeyes hosted the Regional Preview in Iowa City on Oct. 1. The women placed third out of six teams. Senior Tess Wilberding continued to lead the Hawkeyes, placing second overall with a time of 21:30. Sophomore Andrea Shine placed 10th, posting a time of 21:51.
The men competed in a smaller race of only three teams and swept the top eight spots to easily earn the victory. Senior transfer Adam Jones, who was running unattached for the race, grabbed the top spot with a time of 25:09. Sophmore Daniel Soto was the first official Hawkeyes to finish, posted a time of 25:23. He was followed by senior Anthony Gregorio (25:25), freshman Luke Sampson (25:32), and sophomore Ian Eklin (25:34) to round out the top five.
IN THE RANKINGS
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country teams moved up in the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings on Oct. 3 following their performances at the Regional Preview competition. The women moved up to No. 11 while the men are No. 12.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The Hawkeye cross country team is comprised of 47 student-athletes — 19 men and 28 women. The men’s team has four freshmen, seven sophomores, two juniors, and five seniors. The women’s team has 16 freshmen, seven sophomores, three juniors, and four seniors.
WILBERDING CONTINUES STELLAR SEASON
Senior Tess Wilberding has excelled in the 2016. Wilberding recorded her first career win at the Hawkeye Invite on Sept. 2 and followed up with a second-place finish a week later at the Illinois State Invite. Since then, Wilberding was the first Hawkeye to finish at the Roy Griak Invite and ran to a second place finish at the Regional Preview on Oct. 1. Wilberding ranks in Iowa’s top 10 all-time performances in the 3,000-meters.
HASENBANK TAKES CROSS COUNTRY LEAD
Randy Hasenbank was named interim associate head cross country coach/ assistant track and field coach in August. Hasenbank spent the past five seasons at Loyola University Chicago where he won numerous accolades, including being named Horizon League Coach of the Year five times as well as coaching nine All-Americans.
HAWKEYES IN THE TOP 10
Junior Michael Melchert placed among Iowa’s top 10 all-time performers in his first race in 2016. The Monticello, Iowa, native broke an 11 year-old-record set by Eric MacTaggart in the 6,000-meters at the Hawkeye Invitational on Sept. 2 with a time of 18:12. On the women’s side, senior Tess Wilberding (10:20.4) and junior Madison Waymire (10:21.9) broke into the top 10, placing fifth and tying for sixth in Iowa history, respectively, in the women’s 3,000-meters.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
The men’s cross country team added 21 student-athletes to its 2016 roster including 16 women and six men. Brandon Cooley, Adam Jones, Nathan Mylenek, Luke Sampson and Karson Sommer join the men’s team. Taylor Arco, Grace Coen, Amber Decker, Alex Dodds, Claire Dupuis, Maria Eastman, Lauren Gibbs, Julie Hollensbe, Marlie Houston, Mallory King, Hunter Koenigsfeld, Tia Saunders, Haley Schroder, Macie Weber, and Lindsay Welker join the women’s team.
HAWKEYES EXCEL IN CLASSROOM
Eight current Hawkeye student-athletes were named to the 2015 Big Ten Fall Academic All-Conference team — Kevin Docherty, Marta Bote Gonzalez, Kelly Breen, Nate Ferree, Daniel Gardarsson, Anthony Gregorio, Daniel Huff, and Tess Wilberding. Gregorio and Gonzalez were named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars by being letterwinners and maintaining a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher in at least their second academic year.
ASSISTANT COACH
Jon Michael Brandt is in his third season as volunteer assistant coach. Brandt was a five-time letterwinner for Iowa, finishing his collegiate career with a 15th place finish at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in the 10,000 meters.
HAWKEYES HOST NCAA REGIONAL
The Hawkeyes are proud to host the 2016 NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 11 at the Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City. The women’s 6,000-meter race begins at 11 a.m. (CT) and the men’s 10,000-meter race starts at 12 p.m.
