Ella Magallan, Big Ten Women’s Freshman of the Week | Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Cross Country
Ella Magallan, Big Ten Women’s Freshman of the Week | Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Cross Country
The University of Iowa cross country teams are set to compete at the Big Ten Championships on Friday at the Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan. The men's 8,000-meter race will begin at 10:35 a.m., followed by the women's 6,000-meter event. Fans can watch the competition live on Big Ten Network.
In their last outing, Iowa wrapped up the regular season at the Pre-Nationals Invitational held at Gans Creek Cross Country Course on October 17. Sophomores Kyle Montgomery and Elena Torres led their respective teams, with the women’s team achieving six new personal bests in the 6,000 meters. The women finished in 25th place while the men placed 30th.
Several Hawkeyes have received recognition for their performances this season. Elena Torres was named Big Ten Women’s Athlete of the Week after winning the 4,000 meters at the Hawkeye Invite with a personal-best time of 13:44.6. Luke Knepp earned Men’s Athlete of the Week honors following his performance at the Roy Griak Invite, finishing in 26:06.7 over 8,000 meters. Freshman Ella Magallan has been awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times for her efforts at various meets.
Elena Torres has consistently led Iowa's women’s team this season, finishing as their top runner in all four regular-season meets and recording two new top-ten times for Iowa in both the 4,000 and 5,000 meters. "She looks to continue her streak at the Big Ten Championships, where last year she finished as the second Hawkeye and set a PR in the 6,000-meter race," according to university officials.
Other key contributors for Iowa's women's team include senior Jalyssa Blazek and sophomore Hillary Trainor. Blazek finished third at this year's Hawkeye Invite and has placed among Iowa's top three finishers throughout all four meets. Trainor set a personal record to take seventh place at that same meet and was among Iowa's leading runners in subsequent competitions. Ella Magallan also continues to perform well for Iowa.
On the men's side, redshirt sophomore Luke Knepp led during each of his first two races this season. Freshman Elias Arbuckle made an immediate impact by placing sixth in his collegiate debut with a time ranking him fifth all-time at Iowa for that distance; he remained among freshmen leaders through multiple events. Kyle Montgomery secured seventh place during his opener and continued as one of Iowa’s leading finishers throughout subsequent meets.
The roster features several newcomers this year—freshmen Owen Wolfe, Spencer Alf, Elias Arbuckle (men), and Emma Magallan (women). Last year’s class also had significant contributions from then-freshmen like Elena Torres—who earned multiple weekly conference honors—and others such as Marissa Long and Hillary Trainor on the women’s side; Kyle Montgomery and Ethan Eichhorn were key contributors for men.
Fifteen out of twenty-three athletes on this year’s roster are from Iowa; others hail from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas, Indiana, and Colorado.
At last year's Big Ten Championships held in Champaign, Illinois—the men placed thirteenth overall while women finished sixteenth.
Fans can follow exclusive coverage via social media or track live results online through hawkeyesports.com/tracklive.
Next up after these championships is participation in NCAA Midwest Regional competition scheduled for November 14 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
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