UNI cross country opens 2022 season at Redbird invite

UNI men's and women's cross country

Redbird Invite - Illinois State | Normal, Illinois
5 p.m. women's (6K) | 5:45 p.m. men's (8K) - Sept. 16

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The UNI women's and men's cross country teams open 2022 competition at the Redbird Invite Sept. 16.

The women's 6,000-meter race will begin at 5 p.m., and the men's 8,000-meter race will start just after at 5:45 p.m.

With the men's team ranked eighth and the women's team ranked sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll.

The Panthers return much of last year's squad, including Kate Crawford, a sophomore from Adair, Iowa, for who placed among UNI's top three in all of last year's meets. She was UNI's second finisher at regionals. She opened the season at this race in 2021, placing 47th with a time of 15 minutes, 07.10 seconds.

In addition to nearly the entire women's roster returning, the Panthers have strong newcomers including Emma Hoins, Kaylin Lacher and Liv Freud.

On the men's side Sam McCool, a senior from Downers Grove, Illinois, led the Panthers in every meet he competed in during the 2021 season. Opening the season last year at the Hawkeye Invite, he placed 18th with a time of 19:12.60.

Alongside McCool will be Payton Marrs, a sophomore from Urbandale, Iowa, who placed 24th with a time of 19:20.70 seconds at the Panthers' opening meet last season.He finished in the top three for UNI in every meet.

The men's team will be joined by four newcomers that hope to make an impact, including freshmen Jayden Dickson, Drew Dombrosky and Isaac Natvig.

The Redbirds were picked to finish third in the conference, and the women were second in the 2022 MVC preseason poll.

Calendar

Upcoming Events