SOUTH BEND, Ind. – University of Iowa cross country returned to the Joe Piane Invite for the first time since 2023 on Friday morning. Sophomore Elena Torres climbed into the program’s top-10 list in the 5,000 meters with her 16:47.1 finish.

Torres continued her streak of placing as the top Hawkeye, leading the group for the third consecutive meet. The former Big Ten Athlete of the Week from Sept. 10 moved to ninth in program history with her 16:47.1 finish. Torres placed 25th overall.

Fellow sophomore Hillary Trainor scored for the Hawkeyes in the 5,000 meters, recording a time of 17:10.0. Senior Jalyssa Blazek ran a personal-best 17:28.9 and was the third Hawkeye to cross the line. Ella Magallan continued her strong freshman campaign, scoring yet again with a 17:43.9. Junior Audra Soderlind turned in a steady performance and rounded out the scoring for Iowa with a 17:54.7 lifetime best. Overall, the women placed 13th with 363 points.

Rowan Boulter (18:22.5) and Ellie Rathe (18:36.4) set near two-minute personal bests in their 5,000-meter season debuts.

In much better racing conditions than the previous meet, Iowa tallied four personal bests in the men’s 8,000-meter invite. The Hawkeye men were led by Miles Wilson, who finished with a time of 24:01.6 in his season debut. Sophomore Kyle Montgomery had another strong showing, posting a personal record of 24:08.7, which is an over two-minute improvement. Montgomery was the second Hawkeye to cross the line in back-to-back meets, and placed 65th overall.

Three more Hawkeyes scored with personal bests: Luke Knepp (24:17.0), Carson Houg (24:22.9) and Elias Arbuckle (24:27.4). Knepp is a former Big Ten Athlete of the Week from the week of Sept. 24. Houg’s personal best was an over three-second improvement from his 24:26.0 at the Big Ten Championships last year. Arbuckle, a freshman from Grimes, Iowa, continues to contribute to the team. He was the fourth freshman from the Big Ten to complete the course, and was a top-ten finishing freshman in his two prior meets. The trio has scored in all three races this season. The men placed 15th with 352 points.

Sophomore Armaan Chopra (25:17.1) and freshman Owen Wolfe (25:21.8) notched career bests in the open 8,000 meters.

Up Next: The Hawkeyes return to action on Oct. 18 at the Pre-National meet in Columbia, Missouri. Competition begins at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course at 10:00 a.m. (CT).

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 5,000 Meters Invite
13th – 363 points
25. Elena Torres – 16:47.1, 9th at Iowa
54. Hillary Trainor – 17:10.0
90. Jalyssa Blazek – 17:28.9, PR
114. Ella Magallan – 17:43.9
127. Audra Soderlind – 17:54.7, PR
146. Clare Kelly – 18:18.2, PR
153. Rowan Boulter – 18:22.5, PR
162. Ellie Rathe – 18:36.4, PR
167. Marissa Long – 18:39.3

Men’s 8,000 Meters Invite
15th – 352 points
58. Miles Wilson – 24:01.6
65. Kyle Montgomery – 24:08.7, PR
73. Luke Knepp – 24:17.0, PR
83. Carson Houg – 24:22.9, PR
92. Elias Arbuckle – 24:27.4, PR
121. Hayden Kuhn – 24:55.6
131. Brayden Burnett – 25:21.2

Men’s 8,000 Meters Open
36. Armaan Chopra – 25:17.1, PR
38. Owen Wolfe – 25:21.8, PR