Cross Country Opens Season at Hawkeye Invite

Iowa City, Iowa - The UNI Men's and Women's Cross Country team is set to race in Iowa City on Friday September 3rd to race in the 2021 Hawkeye Invite. The women will be racing in a 4 kilometer race beginning at 6:00pm. The men will follow in a 6 kilometer race beginning at 6:35pm. The team is set to open with strong returners and a few new faces hoping to add to the panther's continuing success.

For the Women most noted returner is Senior Paige Holub. Holub's best time in the 4K was set at the Hawkeye Invite in 2018 with a time of 15:03. Holub's most notable performance in the 2021 spring season is her work in the 3,000m where she stopped the clock at 11:04.94 placing first at the Gibson Invitational. The veteran also placed 23rd in the 2020 MVC Cross Country Championships earlier this spring.

Sophomore Sophia Jungling and Freshman Kiki Connell are set to make their collegiate cross country debut this weekend. Jungling placed first in the mile at the Wartburg Friday Night Lights Meet in January with a time of 5:03.47. Connell, aside from being one of the first females in Iowa to win a state title in wrestling, holds her hometown highschool record in the 5K running with a time of 17:57.

Noted veteran returners for the menare seniors Sam McCool and Andrew Kephart. McCool leads the Panthers in the 6K with a time of 19:18.2 where he finished 28th, set directly behind former teammate Alex Jackson who placed 27th with a time of 19.11.4. The returner is most noted for his 19th place finish in the 2020 MVC Cross Country Championships this last spring. Kephart's best time in the 6K was set back in 2018 at the Hawkeye invitational with a time of 20:14.1. Earlier this spring Kephart cracked the top 20 in at the 2020 MVC Cross Country Championships finishing the 8K in 17th with a time of 25:56.8. Kephart was the highest placed panther in that meet.

The Panthers finished the odd 2020 spring cross country season at 5th place in the conference for both the men and women. Coaches are feeling hopeful about the upcoming fall and say the athletes are showing great strides of improvement going into their season opener.

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