HAWK TALK

September 2015

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95 With Eklin competing unattached, Anderson was the Hawkeyes' top scorer for the third time in his career, but he's not going to be bent out of shape if the freshmen remove the redshirts and race to the front. "I don't think it matters for us who is the top guy," Anderson said. "We just want to have interchangeable parts. Whoever is on their game that day can be the top guy. If it's me, so be it. If it's somebody else, so be it. It doesn't really matter. We want to be a cohesive unit. at's what we're looking for." On the women's side, Waymire was one of two newcomers, and four underclassmen, to score for Iowa. Sophomore Kelly Breen placed 10th in 10:40. Freshman Andrea Shine placed 16th in 10:46, and sophomore Courtney Bruns placed 19th in 10:50. Junior Tess Wilberding was sandwiched in between, placing 15th in 10:45. Waymire, who transferred to Iowa aer one season at Missouri, said the group ran a controlled race and expects a stronger group next week. "We'll progressively race more and more competitively throughout the season but our goal is to show up at the end fresh and strong," she said. Iowa races at Illinois State on Sept. 11 before taking a three week competition break. e Hawkeyes compete at Notre Dame and Bradley in October before the championship season begins Nov. 1 in Evanston, Illinois. "We are excited to get the season underway," said Layne Anderson. "We really feel like this group has tremendous potential and we need to stay the course." U niversity of Iowa head cross country coach Layne Anderson predicted a youth movement prior to the year, and at the Hawkeyes' season opener a pair of newcomers delivered. Freshman Ian Ecklin and sophomore transfer Madison Waymire were Anderson's top finishers at the Early Bird Invitational on Sept. 4. Eklin placed third in 19:13 in the men's 6,000 meters; Waymire was fih in 10:29 in the women's 3,000 meters. Waymire was the Iowa women's top point scorer. Eklin wasn't able to say the same on the men's side. He was one of 10 Hawkeye freshmen competing unattached in their collegiate debuts, but Anderson expects that to change. "It was their first week in uniform," Anderson said. "I wasn't certain how they might perform in their first week, but they made it pretty clear that they belong in an Iowa uniform." e "they" Anderson refers to likely includes Eklin and fellow freshmen Bailey Hesse-Withbroe and Daniel Soto. Hesse-Withbroe placed 17th in 19:32. Soto placed 18th in 19:32. Together they would have comprised a scoring team that includes junior Ben Anderson and sophomore Michael Melchert. "e freshmen went out today and gave it their all," said Ben Anderson. "ey looked good. One was way ahead of us and the others were a little bit behind us. I think we're all excited about this young class we have." 2015 SCHEDULE Sept. 11 at Illinois State Invitational Oct. 2 at Notre Dame Invitational Oct. 16 at Bradley Pin Classic Nov. 1 at Big Ten Championships Nov. 13 at NCAA Midwest Regional Nov. 21 at NCAA Championships

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