CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Iowa cross country set eight personal bests at the Big Ten Preview on Friday evening at the Blue and Orange Golf Course in Champaign, Illinois. The women finished fifth with 140 points, while the men placed seventh with 178 points.
On the women’s side, seniors Miriam Sandeen (21:13.2) and Amber Aesoph (21:17.5), junior Rowan Boulter (21:47.4), and sophomore Cameron Kalaway (22:07.2) set career bests in the first 6,000-meter race of the season. For the men, sophomore Miles Wilson (24:06.2), juniors Miles Sheppard (24:36.0), Hayden Kuhn (24:46.7), and Carson Houg (24:49.7) notched personal records to open their 8,000-meter campaign.
The women began the evening with Sandeen as the Hawkeyes’ top finisher in 22nd place. Following her, Aesoph placed 24th. Freshman Elena Torres and Hillary Trainor finished 27th and 31st in 21:23.1 and 21:29.4, respectively. Boulter rounded out Iowa’s top five.
The men concluded the evening with Wilson as the first Hawkeye to cross the finish line, placing 19th overall. Sheppard followed in 40th. Freshmen Kyle Montgomery and Ethan Eichhorn finished 41st and 44th, with times of 24:36.4 and 24:43, respectively. Kuhn placed among the top 50 with his personal best.
HEAR FROM COACH HASENBANK
“I felt really good about how the women competed. We are gaining confidence, which drives improvement and great performance. Miriam (Sandeen) and Amber (Aesoph) did an excellent job of establishing themselves upfront for us. Rowan showed a lot of confidence today. She has worked really hard and I think she realized today that she can race at the next level. Freshmen Elena Torres and Hillary Trainor were terrific in the 6k debuts. I would say, top to bottom, that was our best team performance in a couple of years.
On the men’s side we had a terrific performance from Miles Wilson, he ran an even race throughout and finished very strong. Our freshmen, Kyle Montgomery and Ethan Eichhorn, really impressed me. For their first time at 8k, I think they performed very well.
As a team, we still have a lot of work to do. There is no margin for error, and we need the full lineup on the course to compete at a high level.”
UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes head to the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri, on Sept. 27.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 6,000 meters
22. Miram Sandeen – 21:13.2, PR
24. Amber Aesoph – 21:17.5, PR
27. Elena Torres – 21:23.1
31. Hillary Trainor – 21:29.4
39. Rowan Boulter – 21:47.4, PR
42. Jalyssa Blazek – 21:50:8
47. Marissa Long – 21:56.8
52. Lara Kallem – 22:00.3
56. Cameron Kalaway – 22:07.2, PR
81. Aleah Tenpas – 22:56.8
90. Clare Kelly – 23:29.6
Men’s 8,000 meters
19. Miles Wilson – 24:06.2, PR
40. Miles Sheppard – 24:36.0, PR
41. Kyle Montgomery – 24:36.4
44. Ethan Eichhorn – 24:43.2
46. Hayden Kuhn – 24:46.7, PR
52. Carson Houg – 24.49.7, PR
54. Ian Geisler – 24:51.1
64. Jaxson Plumb – 25:29.3
72. Armaan Chopra – 25:45.9
74. Yohana Yual – 25:51.1