Hawkeyes
Place Three in the Top Ten as Nukuri Runs to Big Ten CC Title
The Iowa Women's Cross Country Team placed 3 runners in the top 10,
led by 2007 Big Ten CC Champion Diane Nukuri, who posted a school record,
course record, and Big Ten Championship record time of 19:37 over the
6k distance. Diane was only the second Hawkeye to win an individual
CC title, following in the footsteps of Tracy Dahl who raced to the
title in 1992. Her performance lowered her PR, set two weeks ago at
the Pre-NCAA meet by 33 seconds from 20:10 to 19:37. Running a very
patient race early Diane passed the 3K mark in 9:56, before slowly making
her move to cover the final 3K loop in 9:41. Three Hawkeyes raced in
the lead pack early, with Meghan Armstrong posting a lifetime best by
26 seconds in a perforamcne that placed her 4th in the Big Ten. Meghan
has improved each season going from 24th to 16th to 8th to 4th in the
Big Ten meet. So. Jolly Burke continued her breakout season, with another
superb race. She lowered her PR by 20 seconds to 20:20 and improved
her place from 42nd last year to 9th this year. All three are positioning
themselves well for a run at All-American honors in three weeks as they
attemmpt to lead the Hawkeyes back to the NCAA meet for the second consecutive
year.
On the day 8 of the 9 ladies raced to PR performances and the 9th, Krista
Anderson took a fall early in the race in a race that saw her tie her
lifetime best. Jessica Schmidt continues to provide solid races for
the team as she posted a 43 sec PR to place 43rd overall. To illustrate
her progression, Jessica is someone who placed 89th in the Big Ten meet
as a Fr. Krista Anderson, Lauren Hardesty, and her twin sister all came
across close together in 53rd, 56th, and 57th place. Lauren and Amanda
raced in their first Big Ten Championship ever and posted times that
were much faster than their races at the Pre NCAA meets. Lauren improved
from 22:18 down to 21:52, while her sister dropped from over 23 minutes
to 21:53. All indications are that both are really starting to get in
great racing shape at a time where the importance of the meet is at
a high for the season. I really low keyed the summer and early fall
for both with the goal to have both really coming on strong late in
the season. I have discovered that a more conservative approach with
Fr. provides them with a greater chance to race well late in the season.
It is an adjustment to college, to the training, and certainly to the
racing, so it it always beneficial to be patient. Molly Esche and Katie
Ellis closed out the day for the Hawks with a 9 sec PR and a 24 sec
PR.
It was a tight team battle and there is no doubt that Krista going down
early cost the team some precious points. With only 31 points to first,
30 to second, 13 to third, and 8 to fourth it was close to the very
end. The team will now focus on recovery and get ready for the NCAA
Midwest Regional in Peoria, Illinois in two weeks. We have lowered our
Big Ten team score each of the last 5 years and are now beginning to
challenge for a top 3 team spot. Last year the team finished 3rd in
the Midwest Regional so our goal this fall has been a top 2 team finish
and an automatic berth to the NCAA meet.
Diane and Meghan both earned first team All-Big Ten honors, while Jolly
was named 2nd team All-Big Ten. Minnesota and Illinois, along with Nebraska,
Wichita State, and Tulsa will all provide stiff competition for the
ladies so we will need to be ready. I believe that we are just beginning
to get fit as our training has been focused toward the final month of
the season. Our number one objective in the next three weeks is to avoid
getting sick and to send our best 7 ladies to the line with fresh legs.
This has certainly been a great year for the team and with 3 weeks left
the team is looking to close the book on 2007 with an improvement at
the NCAA meet.
Facility News:
We have received word that our program will have the outdoor track renovated
next spring. We are set to host the 2009 Big Ten Outdoor Track &
Field Championships so a multi million dollar renovation will set our
program up well to host the meet. It has already been approved and work
will begin in March or April to build a new locker room, weight facility,
and athletic training facility in the area where all are currently located.
These facility upgrades will certainly go well with the Ashton CC course
and our outstanding indoor facility and provide our student-athletes
with first class facilities as we move into the future.
Congrats to all who have enjoyed great fall CC seasons. I wish those
still racing the very best and hope you will continue to provide updates.
Have a great week.
"How many miles will you run chasing down a dream."
On Iowa! Go Hawks!