Notes: Hawkeye Invitational

THIS WEEK
Iowa cross country begins its season at home on Friday at the Hawkeye Invitational at Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City, Iowa. The women’s 4,000-meter race begins at 6 p.m. and the men’s 6,000 meters will follow. Admission is free.

2025 HAWKEYE INVITE
At last year’s Hawkeye Invitational, Iowa posted six times on the program’s all-time list and combined for 12 individual personal records. Elena Torres finished first in the women’s 4,000-meter race with a personal-best time (13:44.6), ranking her third all-time at Iowa. Joining Torres on the all-time list was Jalyssa Blazek, who posted a personal-best time of 13:58.6, moving her to eighth all-time. Seven total Hawkeye women finished in the top 10. The men finished with four top-10 placements in the 6,000-meter race. All four of those Hawkeyes landed on the all-time best performances at Iowa. Luke Knepp finished second overall with a personal-best time of 17:59.2, moving him to second in school history. 

B1G RUNNERS TO WATCH
Runners Hillary Trainor and Miles Wilson were selected as the program’s Big Ten Cross Country Runners to Watch. Trainor has scored in 10 of 12 races throughout her career.
She competed in all six races last season, crossing the finish line second among Hawkeye runners in four of those races. She also set three personal bests last season. Wilson was the top Hawkeye finisher at the Joe Piane Invite last season, running a season-best 24:01.6 (8,000 meters). He was also Iowa’s top finisher at both the 2024 B1G Championships and 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional. Wilson set personal records in both races.

WOMEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Third-year Elena Torres finished first for Iowa in every race last season and placed first overall at the 2025 Hawkeye Invite. She also ran multiple personal best times, ranking third all-time at Iowa and earning Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors. Fellow third-year Hillary Trainor was selected for the 2026 Big Ten Runners to Watch list, setting three new personal bests last season, including in her seventh-place finish at the Hawkeye Invite. Fifth-year Miriam Sandeen set a new personal record to secure fifth place at the 2025 Hawkeye Invite. Earning multiple Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Week honors last season, second-year Ella Magallan placed eighth overall at the 2025 Hawkeye Invite with a collegiate-best time. Fourth-year Clare Kelly competed in all six races for the Hawkeye women during the 2025 season, setting a new personal best at the Hawkeye Invite. 

MEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Fourth-year Luke Knepp led the men’s group in three races last season. His performance in the 2025 Hawkeye Invite placed him second all-time at Iowa, also earning Big Ten Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week later that year. Second-year 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. Third-year Kyle Montgomery also performed well at the 2025 Hawkeye Invite, placing seventh overall and finishing with the seventh-best time in Hawkeye history. Earning a spot on the 2026 Big Ten Runners to Watch list, fourth-year Miles Wilson finished first for Iowa at the Joe Piane Invite last season. 

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Iowa’s fall schedule features local competition including two meets in Ames. After the season-opening Hawkeye Invite, Iowa will get a look at the Midwest Regional site at the Iowa State Invitational. Then, the Hawkeyes travel to Wisconsin for the Nuttycombe Invite in Madison. This, too, sets Iowa up nicely as it will be a preview for the Big Ten Championships on Oct. 30. Iowa heads to the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria on Oct. 16. This year’s NCAA Championships are held in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Nov. 21.

HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
This season, Iowa welcomes five newcomers to the 2026 roster. Freshmen Slader Buckheister, Reed Robbins and Aaron Yarbro join the men’s team this fall. The women’s team added two new freshmen in Noella Ross and Avery Rump. Last season, Iowa relied on several newcomers on the men’s side.  

LOCAL FOCUS
Of the 19 athletes on the Hawkeyes’ cross country team, 11 hail from the state of Iowa. Spencer Alf and Aaron Yarbro come to the Hawkeye State from Wisconsin. Two more Hawkeyes - Marissa Long and Miriam Sandeen - are Minnesota natives. Ella Magallan (Texas), Kyle Montgomery (Indiana) and Elena Torres (Colorado) represent their respective states in 2026.

LINK UP WITH THE HAWKEYES 
For an inside look at the Iowa cross country program, “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
The Hawkeyes travel to Ames, Iowa, for the Iowa State Invitational on Friday, Sept. 18.