Champaign, Ill. – University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country opened postseason competition on Friday at the Big Ten Championships at the Blue and Orange Golf Course in Champaign, Illinois. The men placed 13th overall with 370 points, while the women finished 16th with 479 points.
Eight Hawkeyes set personal bests during the races. For the women, senior Miriam Sandeen (20:58.6), freshman Elena Torres (20:59.0), sophomore Jalyssa Blazek (21:44.1), junior Aleah Tenpas (22:16.6), sophomores Clare Kelly (22:29.9) and Audra Soderlind (22:39.8) set personal bests in the 6,000-meter race. On the men’s side, sophomore Miles Wilson (23:54.5) and junior Carson Houg (24:26.0) also achieved personal best times in the 8,000-meter race.
Sandeen led the Hawkeye women to start the day, finishing 104th (20:58.6), with Torres close behind in 105th (20:59.0). Senior Amber Aesoph followed in 134th (21:25.9), freshman Hillary Trainor in 138th (21:30.2) and Blazek in 152nd to round out Iowa’s top five finishers.
Wilson landed first for the Hawkeyes, placing 63rd. Juniors Brayden Burnett followed him in 77th place (24:03.7), Will Ryan in 81st (24:06.6), Houg in 105th and Hayden Kuhn in 118th (24:44.4), finishing top five for Iowa.
HEAR FROM COACH HASENBANK
“The men’s team has made considerable improvement from a year ago, although it did not show up in the team scores today. I thought Miles Wilson, Brayden Burnett, and Will Ryan competed well today; Carson (Houg) had a solid run as well. Elena (Torres) put together another very competitive race and was able to dip under 21:00 minutes today to continue her strong freshman season. Miriam (Sandeen) came in under 21:00 minutes as well. I thought she put together a strong race after a difficult start.”
UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes will head to the NCAA Midwest Regional in Peoria, Illinois, on Nov. 15.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 6,000 meters
104. Miriam Sandeen- 20:58.6, PR
105. Elena Torres- 20:59.0, PR
134. Amber Aesoph- 21:25.9
138. Hillary Trainor- 21:30.2
152. Jalyssa Blazek- 21:44.1, PR
160. Rowan Boulter- 22:13.3
162. Abby Ryon- 22:14.9
164. Aleah Tenpas- 22:16.6, PR
167. Lara Kallem- 22:24.1
171. Clare Kelly- 22:29.9, PR
174. Cameron Kalaway- 22:36.2
175. Audra Soderlind- 22:39.8, PR
Men’s 8,000 meters
63. Miles Wilson- 23:54.5, PR
77. Brayden Burnett- 24:03.7
81. Will Ryan- 24:06.6
105. Carson Houg- 24:26.0, PR
118. Hayden Kuhn- 24:44.4
126. Yohana Yual- 24:52.0, PR
130. Ian Geisler- 25:04.2
131. Ethan Eichhorn- 25:05.8
139. Kyle Montgomery- 25:18.3