XC Notebook: Big Ten Championships 2025

THIS WEEK
University of Iowa cross country travels to the Big Ten Championships Friday morning at the Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich. The men’s 8,000-meter race kicks off competition at 10:35 a.m., with the women’s 6,000-meter race to follow. Fans can watch live on Big Ten Network.

LAST TIME OUT
University of Iowa cross country wrapped up the regular season at the Pre-Nationals Invitational on the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on Oct. 17. Sophomores Kyle Montgomery and Elena Torres led the Hawkeyes in their respective races, and the Iowa women walked away with six new personal bests in the 6,000 meters. The women placed 25th, and the men placed 30th.

B1G HONORS
Elena Torres was the Big Ten Women’s Athlete of the Week following her performance at the Hawkeye Invite, where she won the 4,000 meters in a personal-best 13:44.6. Luke Knepp won the men’s edition of the award two weeks later after leading the Iowa men at the Roy Griak Invite in 26:06.7 in the 8,000 meters. Freshman Ella Magallan has secured three Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards for her performances at the Hawkeye Invite, Joe Piane Invite and the Pre-National Invite. 

TORRES ON A ROLL
Sophomore Elena Torres made her mark this season. She finished as the top Hawkeye for the women’s team at all four regular season meets. During these meets, she secured two new top-ten times at Iowa in the 4,000 and 5,000 meters. Torres also collected a Big Ten Athlete of the Week honor for her perfomance at the Hawkeye Invitational season opener. She looks to continue her streak at the Big Ten Championships, where last year she finished as the second Hawkeye and set a PR in the 6,000-meter race. 

WOMEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Sophomore Elena Torres has led the group in every race so far this season. Senior Jalyssa Blazek finished third at the 2025 Hawkeye Invite and has finished top three for the Hawkeyes in all four meets. Sophomore Hillary Trainor set a new personal record to secure seventh at the Hawkeye Invite and came in as the third finisher for the Hawkeye women at the Roy Griak Invite. She placed second for the Hawkeyes at the Joe Piane Invite. Also running well for the Hawkeye women has been Ella Magallan. Magallan has collected three Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards, and was one of the top-five finishers for the Hawkeyes at the Joe Piane Invite and Pre-National Invite. 

MEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Redshirt sophomore Luke Knepp led the men’s group in each of the first two races. Freshman Elias Arbuckle placed sixth in the 2025 Hawkeye Invite with a time of 18:09.0, ranking him fifth all-time at Iowa in his very first collegiate race. Arbuckle finished in the top ten among freshmen in his first two meets this season. Kyle Montgomery was seventh in the opener with a time of 18:11.3, moving him into seventh all-time at Iowa. He also was the second Hawkeye men’s runner to finish at the Roy Griak and Joe Piane meets, and claimed the top spot for the Hawkeyes at the Pre National Invite. Miles Wilson crossed the line first for the Hawkeye men in his season debut at the Joe Piane Invite with a time of 24:01.6.

HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
This season, Iowa welcomes four newcomers to the 2025 roster. Freshmen Owen Wolfe, Spencer Alf and Elias Arbuckle join the men’s team this fall. The women’s team added one new freshman in Emma Magallan. These four look to have just as big of an impact as last year’s newcomers. Last season, Iowa relied on several newcomers. On the women’s side, Elena Torres was recognized twice as Big Ten Freshman of the Week, earning the honor for her performances at the Big Ten Preview and Gans Creek Classic. She was also named Iowa’s September Woman Athlete of the Month. Additionally, Marissa Long and Hillary Trainor placed among Iowa’s top five runners in the team’s first two races. The men’s team also saw strong performances from its then-freshmen. Kyle Montgomery and Ethan Eichhorn were key contributors, finishing among Iowa’s top five at multiple meets. Montgomery excelled at the Hawkeye Invite, Gans Creek Classic, and Bradley Pink Classic, while Eichhorn secured top-five finishes at the Hawkeye Invite, Big Ten Preview and Bradley Pink Classic. 

LOCAL FOCUS
Of the 23 athletes on the Hawkeyes’ cross country team, 15 hail from the state of Iowa. Audra Soderlind comes to the Hawkeye State from Illinois. Two Hawkeyes - Marissa Long and Miriam Sandeen - are Minnesota natives. Spencer Alf (Wisconsin), Armaan Chopra (Virginia), Ella Magallan (Texas), Kyle Montgomery (Indiana) and Elena Torres (Colorado) represent their respective states in 2025.

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024
Last year, University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country opened postseason competition 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.

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.

UP NEXT
Iowa heads to the NCAA Midwest Regional in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Nov. 14.