University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Bradley Pink Classic
UNI cross country shines with personal best performances at Bradley Pink Classic
10/16/2026 3:06:00 PM | Cross Country
PEORIA, Ill. --- The UNI cross country team fielded full nine-athlete lineups for the first time this season on Friday, competing at the Bradley Pink Classic with multiple career performances across the board.
Northern Iowa recorded six personal best times set in the men's eight-kilometer red invitational race, including two new top-ten times all-time in program history at the Newman Golf Course for a 13th place team finish, while the Panther women took 12th as a team.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In his season debut, Colin Lillie set a 48-second personal best time in 24:10 in the 210-person men's eight-kilometer race in the red invitational, notching the second-fastest 8K time in program history with a 37th place finish. AJ Willey also etched his name in the UNI record book with the sixth-fastest 8K time in team history with his first sub-25 minute race in 24:23, finish in 54th.
Ethan Olds placed 69th with a 25-second career-best (24:10), as Cooper Erickson took 91st in a 22-second personal best (24:32). Jonas VanDis took 97th in the event (24:53), followed by Carson Owens in 133rd (25:23) and Ty Getz (25:57). Caleb Kass rounded out the nine Panther men in action with a 20-second improvement to take 169th place in 25:59, while Caleb Rankin dropped 30 seconds from the Dan Huston Invite earlier this month to take 169th (25:59).
In the women's six-kilometer red invitational, Meghan Wheatley recorded the 11th fastest 6K time in UNI women's history with a 48th place finish in 21:16, followed by Clare Wright in 79th (21:38). Evie Henneberry dropped ten seconds off her previous career-best time to finish in 87th place (21:43), with Josee Simonson following closely behind in 89th (21:44).Â
Izzy Hardin, running her first collegiate 6K, placed 103rd in 21:52, while Kaylee Woolery took 111th (22:00) and Lucy Murphy finishing 121st (22:12). Freshman Abi Durow rounded out the Panther field in 166th place with a 43 second career-best time in 22:59.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championships, hosted by Drake University at the A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines.
Â
UNI MEN'S RESULTS (8K - RED INVITATIONAL)
- 37th - Colin Lillie - 24:10
- 54th - AJ Willey - 24:23
- 69th - Ethan Olds - 24:32
- 91st - Cooper Erickson - 24:47
- 97th - Jonas VanDis - 24:53
- 133rd - Carson Owens - 25:23
- 168th - Ty Getz - 25:57
- 169th - Caleb Kass - 25:59
- 201st - Caleb Rankin - 27:10
UNI WOMEN'S RESULTS (6K - RED INVITATIONAL)
- 48th - Meghan Wheatley - 21:16
- 79th - Clare Wright - 21:38
- 87th - Evie Henneberry - 21:43
- 89th - Josee Simonson - 21:44
- 103rd - Izzy Hardin - 21:52
- 111th - Kaylee Woolery - 22:00
- 121st - Lucy Murphy - 22:12
- 140th - Brooke O'Brien - 22:38
- 166th - Abbi Durow - 22:59
Â
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.
