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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country teams returns to Iowa City to compete in the Regional Preview on Oct. 1 at the Ashton Cross Country Course. Iowa is joined by Illinois (W), Nebraska (W), Northern Illinois (W), Northwestern (W), South Dakota (M/W), and Western Illinois (M/W).The women’s 6,000-meters begins at 8:30 a.m. (CT) and the men’s 8,000-meters starts at 9:15 a.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Results are posted on the Iowa cross country Twitter account: @Iowa XC_TF and online at hawkeyesports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawkeyes traveled to the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis on Sept. 24. The men’s team raced in the 8,000-meters and finished 15th overall, led by senior Ben Anderson’s 34th place finish. The women ran in their longest race of the year in the 6,000-meters. Senior Tess Wilberding led the team for the third straight race, finishing 94th.
IN THE RANKINGS
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country teams entered the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings on Sept. 12 following their performances at the Illinois State Invite. The men debuted at No. 13 while the women entered at No. 12. Both teams have maintained their rankings since entering the poll.
OUT IN FRONT
Senior Tess Wilberding and junior Madison Waymire have excelled to start the 2016 regular season. Wilberding recorded her first career win at the Hawkeye Invite on Sept. 2 and followed up with a second-place finish a week later at the Illinois State Invite. Waymire has notched two third-place finishes, recording a personal best at the Hawkeye Invite in the 3,000-meters. Both runners rank in Iowa’s top 10 all-time performances in the 3,000-meters.
On the men’s side, junior Michael Melchert and senior Ben Anderson have placed 1-2 among Hawkeyes runners in each of the team’s three races this season. Melchert broke Iowa’s school record in the 6,000-meters in the season opener at the Hawkeye Invitational on Sept. 2, notching a sixth-place finish. The duo’s best race came at the ISU invite where they finished second and fourth, respectively.
HASENBANK TAKES CROSS COUNTRY LEAD
Randy Hasenbank was named interim associate head cross country coach/ assistant track and field coach in August. Hasenbank spent the past five seasons at Loyola University Chicago where he won numerous accolades, including being named Horizon League Coach of the Year five times as well as coaching nine All-Americans.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The Hawkeye cross country team is comprised of 47 student-athletes — 19 men and 28 women. The men’s team has four freshmen, seven sophomores, two juniors, and five seniors. The women’s team has 16 freshmen, seven sophomores, three juniors, and four seniors.
HAWKEYES IN THE TOP 10
Junior Michael Melchert placed among Iowa’s top 10 all-time performers in his first race in 2016. The Monticello, Iowa, native broke an 11 year old record in the 6,000-meters at the Hawkeye Invitational on Sept. 2 with a time of 18:12. On the women’s side, senior Tess Wilberding (10:20.4) and junior Madison Waymire (10:21.9) broke into the top 10, placing fifth and tying for sixth in Iowa history, respectively, in the women’s 3,000-meters.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
The men’s cross country team added 21 student-athletes to its 2016 roster including 16 women and six men. Brandon Cooley, Adam Jones, Nathan Mylenek, Luke Sampson and Karson Sommer join the men’s team. Taylor Arco, Grace Coen, Amber Decker, Alex Dodds, Claire Dupuis, Maria Eastman, Lauren Gibbs, Julie Hollensbe, Marlie Houston, Mallory King, Hunter Koenigsfeld, Tia Saunders, Haley Schroder, Macie Weber, and Lindsay Welker join the women’s team.
HAWKEYES EXCEL IN CLASSROOM
Eight current Hawkeye student-athletes were named to the 2015 Big Ten Fall Academic All-Conference team — Kevin Docherty, Marta Bote Gonzalez, Kelly Breen, Nate Ferree, Daniel Gardarsson, Anthony Gregorio, Daniel Huff, and Tess Wilberding. Gregorio and Gonzalez were named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars by being letterwinners and maintaining a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher in at least their second academic year.
ASSISTANT COACH
Jon Michael Brandt is in his third season as volunteer assistant coach. Brandt was a five-time letterwinner for Iowa, finishing his collegiate career with a 15th place finish at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in the 10,000 meters.
HAWKEYES HOST NCAA REGIONAL
The Hawkeyes are proud to be hosting the 2016 NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 11 at the Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City. The women’s 6,000-meter race begins at 11 a.m. (CT) and the men’s 10,000-meter race starts at 12 p.m. (CT).
Iowa will host the NCAA Regional Preview on Oct. 1 at the Ashton Cross Country Course.
