THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa cross country team hits the road, traveling to Champaign, Illinois, to compete in the Big Ten Preview at the Orange and Blue Golf Course. Illinois will host the Big Ten Preview, with competing teams Iowa, Rutgers and Wisconsin. The women’s 6,000-meter race begins at 5 p.m. (CT) and the men’s 8,000-meter race will follow at 5:45. Admission is free.
LAST WEEK
The University of Iowa cross country team kicked off its 2024 season at the Hawkeye Invite at the Ashton Cross Country Course. The women took second with 39 points in the 4,000-meter race and the men got third with 79 points in the 6,000-meter placed race. The women finished the evening with three top-10 finishes. Senior Miriam Sandeen and junior Rowan Boutler both set personal records at 14:20.4 and 14:41.5, respectively.
WOMEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Amber Aesoph is the leading returner for Iowa in 2024. The senior from Sioux City was Iowa’s top finisher in four of seven meets last season. Returning upperclassmen Jalyssa Blazek, Abby Ryon and Aleah Tenpas combined to score on 13 occasions in 2023. Miriam Sandeen was named to the Big Ten’s Preseason Watch List.
MEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Seniors Ian Geisler and Yohana Yual and juniors Brayden Burnett, Carson Houg, Hayden Kuhn, Will Ryan and Miles Sheppard return as point scorers from the previous season. Ryan was named to the Big Ten’s Preseason Watch List. The sophomore trio of Luke Knepp, Flynn Milligan and Miles Wilson look to push and breakthrough to the top five.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
Iowa welcomes nine newcomers to the 2024 roster. Freshmen Armaan Chopra, Ethan Eichhorn, Kyle Montgomery and Jaxson Plumb join the men’s team this fall. On the women’s side, Lara Kallem transfers in from Simpson College. Freshmen Julia Gehl, Marissa Long, Elena Torres and Hillary Trainor make up the newest underclassmen.
LOCAL FOCUS
Of the 31 athletes on the Hawkeyes’ cross country team, 23 hail from the state of Iowa. Ian Geisler, Cameron Kalaway and Audra Soderlind come to the Hawkeye State from Illinois. Two Hawkeyes, Marissa Long and Miriam Sandeen, are Minnesota natives. Armaan Chopra (Virginia), Kyle Montgomery (Indiana) and Elena Torres (Colorado) represent their respective states in 2024.
FAST START
Iowa kicked off the 2023 cross country season in record-setting fashion at the Hawkeye Invite, with Max Murphy shattering the program’s six-year 6,000-meter record. Murphy’s 17:57.7 broke the school’s top mark by nearly 13 seconds. Previously, the Hawkeye star had ranked sixth all-time in school history, before the 22-second personal best set at the Ashton Cross Country Course. Four more Hawkeyes moved up the program record list: Hayden Kuhn (18:05.4 – 2nd), Miles Sheppard (18:07.4 – 3rd), Will Ryan (18:17.4 – 7th), and Ian Geisler (18:17.6 – 8th).
2023 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Junior Max Murphy placed 69th at the NCAA Championships in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a 30:13.9 personal best in the 10,000-meter race. Murphy’s time moved him to fifth in program history. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native was Iowa’s first NCAA qualifier since 2019. Murphy’s finish is the highest since 2010, when Jeff Thode placed 30th. Murphy saved his best race for last, with an average 1,000-meter split of 2:57.4. As he has done all season, the Hawkeye junior kept pace and climbed toward the front of the pack with each passing split. Out of 236 runners, Murphy broke into the top 100 at the 6K mark and continued to push forward to his personal best finish.
NEXT UP FOR THE HAWKEYES
The Hawkeyes will head to the Gans Greek Classic in Columbia, Missouri, on Sept. 27.
LINK UP WITH THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa cross country program and to access exclusive coverage, “like” The University of Iowa Cross Country and Track & Field Facebook page and follow the Hawkeyes on X (@IowaXC_TF) and Instagram (@iowaxctf). Follow live results at hawkeyesports.com/tracklive.