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BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Sophomore Nathan Mylenek and junior Andrea Shine paced the University of Iowa cross country teams Sunday at the 2017 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in Bloomington, Indiana.
Mylenek was in the top four at the 3,000-meter mark, but fell off the pace in the final 2,000 meters and finished 28th in the 8,000 meters (24:57.6). The men placed 10th with 235 points, a 106-point improvement from last season.
Shine finished 29th overall in the 6,000 meters (21:08.7), and the women placed 11th with 303 points.
YEAR-OVER-YEAR IMPROVEMENT
- The Hawkeye men and women had 11 runners returning from last year’s conference championships, and nine of the 11 improved their standing from a year ago, including Mylenek, who jumped 69 spots from his 97th place finish a year ago. Shine improved 37 spots from a year ago, and has jumped 53 spots from her Big Ten Championships debut in 2015.
- The Iowa men saw year-over-year improvements from Mylenek (+69), Bailey Hesse Withbroe (+42), Daniel Murphy (+34), Brandon Cooley (+32), and Ian Eklin (+19). Daniel Soto jumped 51 spots from his last conference race in 2015.
- The Iowa women saw year-over-year improvement from Marta Gonzalez (+42), Shine (+37), Madison Waymire (+25), and Julie Hollensbe (+17).
HEAD COACH RANDY HASENBANK
“The men were far more competitive today than a year ago. I do wish the improvement in the program was reflected better in the team results, but the Big Ten is not going to wait for us and we need to continue to close the gap. Nate was in the top four at the 3K, and may have made of an aggressive mistake, but he tried to win the race and he was fearless. I’ll take the aggressive over the passive. The overall improvement shows a better prepared and spirited group, and we need to bring that again in two weeks. I want them to see that effort reflected on the scoreboard.
“Like the men’s squad, the women showed a more competitive spirit today when compared to a year ago. Andie led us again and I know there is more in the tank. Madison, like Andie, showed significant improvement over last year, and Lauren is beginning to return to form after missing the entire summer of training. Overall I think we could have operated with a little more confidence. Moving forward that needs to happen. We will now turn our focus to the NCAA Midwest Regional. “
FIGHT FOR IOWA
- The women’s five point-scorers included 29. Shine (21:08.7), 52. Waymire (21:42.2), 68. Gonzalez (22:20.2), 73. Lauren Opatrny (22:28.2), and 81. Hollensbe (22:51.8).
- The men’s five point-scores included 28. Mylenek (24:57.6), 36. Soto (25:04.3), 48. Hesse-Withbroe (25:15.8), 60. Eklin (25:24.2), and 63. Cooley (25:27.3).
- Opatrny was competing in just her third race of the season, and improved her season-best in the 8K by 13 seconds.
- Shine has been the women’s top runner in all five races this season. Waymire has been Iowa’s No. 2 finisher in each of those races.
- Mylenek was the men’s top runner for the fourth time in five races this season.
- The Hawkeye men were one of two teams competing without a senior (Indiana). Iowa ran four sophomores and five juniors.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
Michigan swept the men’s (71) and women’s (55) team titles. Indiana’s Katherine Receveur won the women’s race in 20:10.3. Wisconsin’s Oliver Hoare won the men’s race in 24:09.3.
BTN REPLAY
The 2017 Big Ten Cross Country Championships will Monday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on BTN.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes postseason continues Nov. 10 at the NCAA Regionals in Ames, Iowa.
