Notes: Redbird Invite

THIS WEEK
Due to the cancellation of the Iowa State Invitational, Iowa cross country heads to Normal, Illinois, on Friday for the Redbird Invitational at the Weibring Golf Club. The men’s 8,000-meter race begins at 10:30 a.m. with the women’s 6,000 meters to follow at 11:15. 

LAST TIME OUT
Iowa began its 2026 season by winning both the men’s and women’s team titles at the Hawkeye Invitational. Race time moved from evening to morning to combat the heat. Despite poor racing conditions, the Iowa women opened the morning by placing first in the 4,000-meters with 26 points and were led by third-year Hillary Trainor. Trainor placed first overall in the women’s race with a new personal best of 14:16.6. Fifth-year Miriam Sandeen finished right behind, placing second overall and clocking a time of 14:17.9, while third-year Elena Torres placed fifth (14:34.9). First-years Avery Rump (14:38.4) and Noella Ross (14:43.4) completed scoring for the Hawkeye women, placing eighth and tenth, respectively. The men followed suit, placing first in the 6,000-meters race with 25 points and third-year Kyle Montgomery leading the way. Montgomery placed second overall in 18:36.6. He was followed by fourth-year Miles Wilson, who placed third overall with a time of 18:41.7. Second-year Elias Arbuckle finished sixth (18:57.8). Rounding out scoring for the Hawkeye men were first-years Slader Buckheister (19:00.0) and Aaron Yarbro (19:05.2). Both finished inside the top ten, placing eighth and ninth, respectively. 

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 Hillary Trainor was selected for the 2026 Big Ten Runners to Watch list,  and is off to a strong start, winning the 4K at the Hawkeye Invite with a personal best. Fifth-year Miriam Sandeen leads the way as the veteran of the group. Elena Torres finished first for Iowa in every race last season. 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. Earning multiple Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Week honors last season, second-year Ella Magallan looks to build on a strong rookie campaign.

MEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Third-year Kyle Montgomery got off to a strong start, leading the Iowa men to a team title at the Hawkeye Invite. Fourth-year Miles Wilson made his return to the course and turned in a nice performance in the opener, placing third overall. He was tabbed as Iowa’s B1G Runner to Watch heading into the season. 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. 

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Poor, rainy weather forecasts cancelled the Iowa State Invitational on Sept. 18 and forced Iowa to find a new meet to participate in. The Hawkeyes will travel to the Redbird Invitational in Normal, Illinois, instead. Iowa originally was scheduled to compete at the Nuttycombe Invitational but will go to the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri, Sept. 26 in place of Nuttycombe. Iowa heads to the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria on Oct. 16, a meet it has frequented over the years. The Big Ten meet will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Midwest Regional will take place in Ames. 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. Four of the five scored in Iowa’s season-opening Hawkeye Invitational. 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 return to action next Friday at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri. Racing begins at 8 a.m. at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course.