THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa cross country team hits the road, traveling to Columbia, Missouri, to compete in the Gans Creek Classic at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course. Missouri will host the Gans Creek Classic. The men’s 8,000-meter race begins at 8 a.m. (CT) and the women’s 6,000-meter race will follow at 8:45. Competition continues with the men’s 8k open beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the women’s 6k open starting at 10:15 a.m.
LAST TIME OUT
University of Iowa cross country set eight personal bests at the Big Ten Preview on Sept. 13 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.
WOMEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Miriam Sandeen is the leading runner for Iowa in 2024. The senior from Eden Prairie, Minn., has been Iowa’s top finisher for the first two meets of the 2024 season. Sandeen was named to the Big Ten’s Preseason Watch List. Freshman Elena Torres, junior Rowan Boulter and senior Amber Aesoph combined to score on for Iowa’s first two meets of the 2024 season.
MEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Juniors Will Ryan, Miles Sheppard, Hayden Kuhn, and Carson Houg have been Iowa’s point scorers this season. Ryan was named to the Big Ten’s Preseason Watch List. Sophomore Miles Wilson has been a consistent top five runner for Iowa in the past two meets.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
Iowa has seen impressive performances from its freshman class this season. On the women’s side, Elena Torres was recently named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. In addition, Marissa Long, Hillary Trainor and Torres have placed in the top five of Iowa’s runners in the first two races. For the men, Ethan Eichhorn and Kyle Montgomery have also finished in the top five among Iowa runners in both races.
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
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 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.
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 Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Illinois, on Oct. 18.
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.