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35 U niversity of Iowa junior Nathan Mylenek led the men›s cross country team to a sixth-place finish at the 2018 Big Ten Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Oct. 28. Mylenek finished 11th overall (24:00.5) in the 8,000 meters, earning second team all-conference honors and leading the Hawkeyes to their best finish since 2009. Mylenek improved by 17 places from the 2017 Big Ten Championships, when he placed 28th. "A wonderful performance by the men's team," Iowa cross country coach Randy Hasenbank said. "Two years ago, this group was last in the Big Ten. I am proud of how they competed. Nate [Mylenek] got us going up front with an 11th-place finish, and then the rest of the squad competed like warriors. We wanted to get out and establish ourselves early, and we did that." e women placed ninth in the 6,000-meter race, their highest finish since 2011. Senior Andrea Shine led the Hawkeyes, placing 15th in a career- best 20:35.4. Shine improved 14 spots from the 2017 Big Ten Championships. "It is a great marker for how far we have come in two years," Hasenbank said. "We had four freshmen across the line behind Andie and (senior) Megan [Schott]. If you look at the times, you will see that this group improved dramatically from our meet here early in the season." A crucial part of the men's lineup was senior Daniel Soto. Soto led Iowa in three races prior to the conference meet and finished as the Hawkeyes' No. 2 runner (32nd place) at Big Tens, despite competing under unfavorable circumstances. "I am so proud of Dan's performance," Hasenbank said. "is is a guy who came off a great summer of training, led the squad most of the season, and his IT band flared up on him [prior to the postseason]. Fantastic effort; many athletes would not have gone to the line with that type of adversity. He is a team player." e teams collectively recorded 12 career records. Eight men posted personal bests, including Mylenek (24:00.5), Brandon Cooley (24:36.9), Ian Eklin (24:58.7), Noah Healy (25:24.5), Bailey Hesse-Withbroe (25:05.2), Daniel Murphy (24:37.0), Spencer Smith (24:59.8), and Karson Sommer (24:40.5). Four women set personal bests in the 6,000 meters: Shine (20:35.4), Ashley Bryja (22:35.3), Kylie Latham (22:52.8), and Jessica McKee (22:11.5). "Now we need to recover and get both squads ready for the NCAA Midwest Regional," Hasenbank said. e Hawkeyes continue the postseason Nov. 9 when they head to Peoria, Illinois, to compete at the NCAA Midwest Regional. NOVEMBER SCHEDULE Nov. 9 NCAA Regionals (Peoria, Ill.) Nov.17 NCAA Championships (Madison, Wis.)