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25 U nder the direction of first-year head coach Randy Hasenbank, the University of Iowa cross country teams completed their sea- sons with small, but visible improvement. "I would say the season was average because we were up against it on the timeline with the late transition," Hasenbank said. "at presented a lot of challenges. We were trying to evaluate the team and put together a training schedule, but I was proud the way the men finished at NCAA Region- als and the consistency of the women." Hasenbank completed his first season as head cross country coach and saw improvement from both squads in 2016. Hasenbank guided both teams to their best finish since 2014 and did so on short notice aer being named to the position in August. "What I really like about Iowa are the resources," Hasenbank said. "It took me pretty much the entire season to realize how many great resources we have and what I mean by resources are training venues and places to go run with trails and hills." Hasenbank spent the past five seasons at Loyola University in Chicago where he won numerous accolades, including being named Horizon League Coach of the Year five times as well as coaching nine All-Americans. e season was highlighted by senior Tess Wil- berding's consistent running from the first race to her last. Wilberding kicked off her final year by recording her first career win at the Hawkeye Invitational on Sept. 2. She then followed with a second-place finish a week later at the Illinois State Invitational. e Troy, Michigan, native, led Iowa in every race this season and is the third runner since 2000 to complete that feat (Sarah Arens 2000, Madison Waymire 2015). Wilberding ranks in Iowa's top 10 all-time performances in the 3,000-meters. e Hawkeyes hosted the NCAA Midwest Re- gional for the first time since 2005. e program saw improvement from both teams from 2015. e women finished 17th overall. Senior Tess Wilberd- ing led Iowa, placing 50th overall with a season- best time of 21:20.3. "It was awesome hosting an NCAA Regional," Wil- berding said. "Even last year we were talking about hosting. It was surreal and it also made us less nervous because we knew the course better than anybody else." e Iowa men brushed off a disappointing finish at the Big Ten Championships to finish 11th. Senior Ben Anderson paced the Hawkeyes for a third straight race. e senior from West Des Moines, Iowa, recorded a personal best 31:17.9 in his final race at Ashton Cross Country Course. Following the NCAA Midwest Regional, Iowa remained in the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings for the sixth straight week following the release of the Nov. 11 polls. e men moved up four spots to No. 11 and the women are two spots ahead of their finish a year ago at No. 17.