University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Gans Creek Classic
Panther cross country visits Columbia and Gans Creek Classic
9/25/2025 12:23:00 PM | Cross Country
UNI cross country at Gans Creek Classic
- 8:15 a.m. CT | Sept. 26, 2025
- Gans Creek Cross Country Course
- Columbia, Mo.
- WATCH (SEC Network+)
- LIVE RESULTS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI cross country team will continue its season on Friday morning in Columbia, Missouri, running at the annual Gans Creek Classic.
Competition is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. CT with the UNI men competing in the black invitational eight-kilometer race, followed by the women's gold invitational six-kilometer race at 10:30 a.m. CT. Live video coverage of all races can be found on SEC Network+.
Site of this year's NCAA Championship meet set to be held in November, this year's Gans Creek Classic will be a key measuring stick meet for Northern Iowa against a large competitive field, which will notably include runners from four other Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) programs, including Belmont, Drake, Evansville and UIC.
The Panther women will look to build off their second-place team finish at the Redbird Invitational two weeks ago, in a meet that saw three career-best 6K finishes. Leah Klapatauskas (Dubuque, Iowa/Senior HS) led the charge for the Panthers in Normal, placing fifth in a career-best time of 21:54. Amelia Hill placed seventh (22:07), followed by an eighth-place finish from Lindsey Sonderman (22:17).
Other notable placements included Meghan Wheatley with a ninth-place finish and a career-best time of 22:25, and Kaylee Woolery in 16th place in a career-best time of 22:50.
On the men's side, Colin Lillie took 25th at the Redbird Invitational and notched a new career-best time in the 8K (25:37). Freshman Ethan Olds impressed, placing 29th in a time of 25:45, followed by Micah Rees in 30th (25:47).
The UNI women took 14th place in the 2024 Gans Creek Classic, while the men took 31st place one year ago in Columbia.
UNI WOMEN'S 6K CAREER BEST TIMES
- Amelia Hill - 20:50 (2024 MVC Championships)
- Leah Klapatauskas (Dubuque, Iowa/Senior HS) - 21:51 (Redbird Invite)
- Kaylin Lacher - 25:37 (2022 Redbird Invite)
- Eden Mueller - 21:38 (2024 MVC Championships)
- Brooke O'Brien - 22:21 (2024 MVC Championships)
- Melody Ochana 20:59 (2024 MVC Championships)
- Kaylee Woolery 22:50 (2025 Redbird Invite)
- Clare Wright 22:28 (2024 MVC Championships)
- Kayla Young 23:17 (2023 MVC Championships)
UNI MEN'S 8K CAREER BEST TIMES
- Jack Bergman - 25:28 (2024 Gans Creek Classic)
- Jayden Dickson - 25:54 (2022 Gans Creek Classic)
- Drew Dombrosky - 25:54 (2022 Gans Creek Classic)
- Kon Dut - 26:49 - (2023 Gans Creek Classic)
- Josh Gormley - 26:21 (2025 Redbird Invite)
- Caleb Kass - 26:19 (2024 Gans Creek Classic)
- Chase Lauman - 25:13 (2024 MVC Championships)
- Colin Lillie - 25:37 (Redbird Invite)
- Carson Owens - 24:38 (2024 Bradley Pink Classic)
- Micah Rees - 25:33 (2024 Redbird Invite)
UNI cross country action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Track and Field), X (@UNITrackFieldXC) and on Instagram (@uni_tf_xc). The full schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
Players Mentioned
