IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country teams kicked off the 2024 season at the Hawkeye Invite on Friday evening. The women took second with 39 points and the men brought home third with 75 points.
Senior Miriam Sandeen and junior Rowan Boulter both set personal bests in the 4,000-meter race, crossing the finish line at 14:20.4 and 14:41.5, respectively.
The women started the evening with three top-10 finishes. Sandeen led the Hawkeyes with a fourth place finish. Freshman Elena Torres finished fifth, crossing the tape at 14:21.6. Senior Amber Aesoph crossed the line in 14:30.5 for a seventh place. Boulter, with her personal best, finished 11th. Freshman Marissa Long rounded out Iowa’s top-five with a 12th-place finish, crossing in 14:43.7.
The men closed out the night with the 6,000-meter race. Junior Will Ryan was the top finisher for the Hawkeyes, crossing at 18:24.8 for a 10th-place finish. Freshman Kyle Montgomery made his collegiate debut and clocked a 18:29.9 to take 12th. Ethan Eichhorn also made his collegiate debut crossing the line in 18:39.4 for a 16th-place finish. Juniors Miles Sheppard and Carson Houg both had top-20 finishes for Iowa.
HEAR FROM COACH HASENBANK
“Miriam ran really well, and we need her to run well all season. She had a really strong finish to her track season and she’s going to be somebody who’s up there in that front part of the races. Freshmen Elena and Marissa ran really well, which we expected, but it was good to see it this early on. Our freshmen class for both the men’s and women’s has a lot of talent and they are going to contribute immediately and they did so here today.”
Up Next: The Hawkeyes head to the Big Ten Preview in Champaign, Illinois, on Sept. 13.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 4,000 Meters
4. Miriam Sandeen – 14:20.4, PR
5. Elena Torres – 14:21.6
7. Amber Aesoph – 14:30.6
11. Rowan Boulter – 14:41.5, PR
12. Marissa Long – 14:43.7
14. Lara Kallem – 14:47.7
15. Jalyssa Blazek – 14:51.2
16. Cameron Kalaway – 14:57.3
17. Hillary Trainor – 14:58.7
18. Clare Kelly – 15:02.2
20. Aleah Tenpas – 15:06.3
27. Lillian Schmidt – 15:36.8
30. Audra Soderlind – 15:55.4
32. Ellie Rathe – 16:03.3
Men’s 6,000 Meters
10. Will Ryan – 18:24.8
12. Kyle Montgomery – 18:29.9
16. Ethan Eichhorn – 18:39.4
17. Miles Sheppard – 18:40.7
20. Carson Houg – 18:49.8
24. Jaxson Plumb – 19:03.7
26. Armaan Chopra – 19:04.5
27. Ian Geisler – 19:10.2
28. Yohana Yual – 19:13.7