THIS WEEK
University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross country begins postseason competition with the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Illinois, on Nov. 1. The Big Ten Championships are hosted by the University of Illinois and held at the Orange and Blue Golf Course. The women’s 6,000-meter race begins at 10:35 a.m. (CT), with the men’s 8,000-meter race to follow at 11:35.

LAST TIME OUT
The University of Iowa men’s and women’s cross-country teams concluded their regular season on Oct. 18, with six Hawkeyes setting personal records at the Bradley Pink Classic. The men placed third overall with 165 points, while the women finished tenth with 275 points.

WOMEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Miriam Sandeen is the leading runner for Iowa in the 2024 regular season. The senior from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has been Iowa’s top finisher in the Hawkeye Invite, Big Ten Preview and the Bradley Pink Classic. Freshman Elena Torres finished as Iowa’s top runner at the Gans Creek Classic. Senior Amber Aesoph and junior Rowan Boulter combined to score for all of Iowa’s 2024 regular season races.

MEN’S TOP RUNNERS
Juniors Will Ryan, Miles Sheppard, Brayden Burnett, and Carson Houg have been Iowa’s point scorers this season. Ryan was named to the Big Ten’s Preseason Watch List. Sophomore Miles Wilson has been a consistent top-five runner for Iowa in every meet for the 2024 season.

LAST TIME HERE
The Hawkeyes had a previous look at the Blue and Orange Cross Country Course at the Big Ten Preview on Sept. 13. The women’s team finished fifth with 140 points, led by Miriam Sandeen in 22nd (21:13.2). Amber Aesoph, Elena Torres, Hillary Trainor, and Rowan Boulter rounded out Iowa’s top five. The men’s team placed seventh with 178 points. Miles Wilson paced the Hawkeyes with a 19th-place finish (24:06.2), followed by Miles Sheppard, Kyle Montgomery, Ethan Eichhorn and Hayden Kuhn.

HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
Iowa’s freshman class has made a significant impact this season. On the women’s side, Elena Torres has been recognized twice as Big Ten Freshman of the Week, earning the honor for her performances at the Big Ten Preview and Gans Creek Classic. She was also named Iowa’s September Woman Athlete of the Month. Additionally, Marissa Long and Hillary Trainor have consistently placed among Iowa’s top five runners in the team’s first two races. The men’s team has also seen strong performances from its freshmen. Kyle Montgomery and Ethan Eichhorn have been key contributors, finishing among Iowa’s top five at multiple meets. Montgomery excelled at the Hawkeye Invite, Gans Creek Classic, and Bradley Pink Classic, while Eichhorn secured top-five finishes at the Hawkeye Invite, Big Ten Preview, and Bradley Pink Classic.