Mylenek Sets 10,000-Meter Record at NCAA Regional

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AMES, Iowa — Sophomore Nathan Mylenek set the 10,000-meter school record and junior Andrea Shine placed 20th overall as the University of Iowa cross country team capped off its 2017 season at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa on Friday.

In his second 10,000-meter race of his career, Mylenek set the school record at 29:53.2, surpassing former Hawkeye Jeff Thode who accomplished the feat in 2010. Mylenek finished 32nd.

Shine improved upon her finish at last year’s NCAA Regional by 70 spots to 20th overall in the 6,000-meters. She finished with a personal best time of 20:46.2.
The women placed 12th in the region (351 points) and the men recorded 314 points to finish 11th as a team.

MEN RE-WRITE THE RECORD BOOK

  • Mylenek was joined in Iowa’s all-time top-10 list by junior Dan Soto and sophomore Brandon Cooley
  • Soto ranks third all-time behind Mylenek and Jeff Thode with a time of 30:04.43. He finished 43rd.
  • Cooley is now ninth all-time with a time of 30:29 and placed 73rd overall.

WOMEN SEE DRASTIC IMPROVEMENT

  • The Iowa women’s 12th place finish is a five spot improvement from last year’s NCAA Regional in Iowa City.
  • Shine’s 20th place finish is a 70 place improvement from a year ago (90th) and 31 places higher than Iowa’s top finisher from a year ago (51st).
  • Senior Madison Waymire improved 54 spots over her 2016 finish and junior Lauren Opatrny improved four places.

HEAD COACH RANDY HASENBANK
“I was pleased with the progress that the women made from a year ago. We moved 17th to 12th in the team standings, but like the Big Ten meet, huge individual improvements, beginning with Andie Shine. She is an All-Region performer with her 20th place finish. She went from 90th last year to 20th today. Madison was 96th a year ago, 42nd today. Marta was 140th a year ago and 70th today. Lauren, in only her fourth race of the season ran very well and I am excited about where she is going with her training.”

“The men had an average day. The guys were disappointed and we though we could be anywhere from 6th to 8th. Nate led us again and had a very solid performance finished 32nd. Dan Soto had a very solid season and I look for his cross country season to launch him to the next level. Brandon was solid in the three spot. We need to get Ian healthy and that will be a difference maker for us.”

FIGHT FOR IOWA

  • Iowa finished with five runners (two women, three men) inside the top-100.
  • Marta Gonzalez (69th, 21:27), Lauren Opatrny (97th, 21:43), Julie Hollensbe (123rd, 22:57), and Ashley Espinosa (214th, 23:40)
  • Ian Eklin (81st, 30:32.9), Bailey Hesse-Withbroe (85th, 30:35.7), Karson Sommer (93rd, 30:43.4), Luke Sampson (105th, 30:56.9)

UP NEXT
The Iowa Track and Field team hosts its annual Black & Gold Intrasquad Saturday, December 9, inside the UI Recreation building.
 

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