Hawkeyes End Season With Three Season Bests at NCAA Midwest Regional

STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Iowa cross country team wrapped up the 2025 season Friday morning at the NCAA Midwest Regional at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course. Sophomore Elena Torres led the women’s squad, while redshirt sophomore Luke Knepp paced the Hawkeye men. The men finished 15th with 430 points, and the women placed 16th with 424 points.

Torres was Iowa’s top women’s finisher in every regular-season and postseason meet this year. Her time of 21:28.4 marked a season best. Sophomore Hillary Trainor posted a time of 21:52.8 and also scored for the Hawkeyes in every meet this season. Senior Jalyssa Blazek set a season best at 22:21.3 while scoring for the women. Rounding out the top five were junior Audra Soderlind (22:31.9) and senior Rowan Boulter, who posted a season best of 22:41.6.

The men’s team featured two strong 10,000-meter debuts. Knepp led Iowa with a time of 32:25.4, and freshman Elias Arbuckle (32:42.7) was third for the Hawkeyes in his first collegiate 10K. Senior Brayden Burnett was Iowa’s second scorer at 32:32.1. Hayden Kuhn (32:59.8) and Carson Houg (33:04.9) rounded out the top five, continuing their consistent scoring roles.

The meet concludes the 2025 cross country season for the Hawkeyes.

Oklahoma State swept the team titles and claimed individual championships in the women’s 6,000 meters and men’s 10,000 meters.

Hear From Coach Hasenbank
“This was the best meet of the year for the men’s squad. Today they executed the best race of the season, by far. I’m happy for the guys, considering all the adversity over the past two months. Luke had a great race; he competed very well on a tough course. All three of our seniors competed well today. I’m also very proud of the season that true freshman Elias Arbuckle put together. He is a tough young competitor and has been very consistent.

On the women’s side, they put together another very solid performance. I’m very proud of the consistency these women displayed this season. Every race, someone stepped up and helped carry the load. Today was no different. We always know what we will get from Elena and Hilary as they held down the 1 and 2 spots again. It was great to have Jalyssa and Rowan finish out their cross country careers with big performances for the team today. Also, Audra just capped off her best season, by far, and there is a lot of potential there, and we got to see some of that this fall.”

Up Next: Iowa’s cross country season has come to a close. The track and field program opens its 2025-26 campaign at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Dec. 6.