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Momentum Meets Uncertainty By CHRIS BREWER T he University of Iowa cross country teams head into the Big Championships wearing conflicting brands on their feet. The right foot steps forward wearing a coaches' favorite, momentum. The leſt foot alternates steps laced tight with uncertainty. It's difficult to race with both, but it's not impossible. The Hawkeye men prepped for the conference meet with an 8,000-meter race in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 13. Five Hawkeye men scored in the team race, and all five set personal records. They included team pace-setter Nick Holmes, junior Jon Michael Brandt, freshmen Anthony Gregorio, and sophomores Kevin Lewis and Ben Witt. "I was particularly happy with our top three finishers," said men's cross country coach Larry Wieczorek. "We have three pieces of the puzzle, and if we can get the fourth and fiſth men there, I think we will be an improved team by the Big Championships." Schrulle became just the third Hawkeye in school history to break the 20-minute mark when she crossed the finish in 19:57. She joins a short list that includes two-time All-Americans Diane Nukuri and Racheal Marchand. "She jumped right over the 20s into the 19s," said head coach Layne Anderson. "She certainly surpassed my expectations. Not because I didn't think she had the ability to do it, but I wasn't sure she was there yet in terms of her fitness. It's got to be a real confidence-boost for her. " "We have three pieces of the puzzle, and if we can get the fourth and fiſth men there, I think we will be an improved team by the Big Championships." Brandt's been there all year, leading the Hawkeyes in two races, while placing second in two others; Holmes is a senior captain with conference championship experience. But the rest of the lineup is relatively unproven. Gregorio is a freshman, and sophomores Lewis and Witt, while conference-tested, need to make a big jump from year one to year two at the Big Championships. Michigan State hosts the men's and women's conference meet Oct. 29, and a pair Hawkeye women are peaking on the eve of championships season. Mareike Schrulle and Megan Ranegar each recorded personal-best 6,000-meter performances at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational on Oct. 12. Ranegar also ran into the record books with a time of 20:43, fast enough for seventh all-time. "Workman-like effort for Megan," said Anderson. "I think she's another one who is just gaining confidence and understanding what she needs to do to compete at an All-Big level. " The Hawkeye women are also hoping to get a boost from the potential return of sophomore Kayla Beattie. The Woodstock, Ill., native has been out of the lineup for a month dealing with a foot injury she suffered Sept. 21 while turning in the second-fastest 4,000-meter time in school history. "She's back to training and working out," said Anderson. "She completely missed 10 days over a two-week span, so we won't know if she's ready until we see how she responds to training. " Beattie led Iowa in each of the two races she's competed this season, and her personal-best 6K time ranks eighth in school history, which means Iowa could send a lineup to East Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 29 that features three of the school's all-time best 6,000-meter runners. 15