University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Hawkeye Invite
Panther cross country rewrites women’s 4K top-ten, Olds wins men’s 6K title
9/4/2026 9:31:00 AM | Cross Country
IOWA CITY, Iowa --- The UNI cross country team opened the 2026 season on Friday morning at the Hawkeye Invitational, hosted at the Ashton Cross Country Course.
In the first meet of the new year, which featured the collegiate debuts of five Panther newcomers, Northern Iowa made an early season statement with five new top-ten times in program history in the women's four-kilometer race, and Ethan Olds winning the men's six-kilometer race.
Junior Clare Wright led the UNI women with a strong season-opening performance, placing third overall in 14:25, the third-fastest time in team history. Freshman Izzy Hardin made her collegiate debut finishing fourth in 14:34 with UNI's fifth-fastest time ever in the event, just ahead of sophomore Meghan Wheatley, who crossed the finish line in sixth in 14:35 with the Panthers' sixth-fastest time in team history.
Sophomore Josee Simonson added to the list of top-ten finishers for UNI, placing seventh in 14:37 with the team's eighth-fastest time ever in the event, followed by freshman Lucy Murphy in ninth with a time of 14:41 (tenth-fastest in UNI history).
Sophomore Sarah Feddersen placed 12th in 14:57, while sophomore Evie Henneberry finished 13th in 15:02. Senior Kaylee Woolery opened her final season with a 14th place finish in 15:12, and freshman Abbi Durow followed in 15th with 15:24.0. Brooke O'Brien rounded out the Panther lineup in 16th with a time of 15:27.9.
On the men's side, Olds opened the season with a winning time of 18:24, a 34-second personal-best time from his previous mark at the 2025 Cyclone Preview. Freshman AJ Willey delivered in a strong collegiate debut, placing fifth in 18:55, while fellow freshman Cooper Erickson followed in seventh in 18:58.
Junior Chase Lauman placed tenth in 19:11 as sophomore Jonas VanDis took 13th overall (19:32). Ty Getz rounded out the UNI lineup in 15th with a new career-best time (19:44).
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Gans Creek Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri.
UNI WOMEN'S RESULTS (4K)
- 3rd - Clare Wright (14:25)
- 4th - Izzy Harden (14:34)
- 6th - Meghan Wheatley (14:35)
- 7th - Josee Simonson (14:37)
- 9th - Lucy Murphy (14:41)
- 12th - Sarah Feddersen (14:57)
- 13th - Evie Henneberry (15:02)
- 14th - Kaylee Woolery (15:12)
- 15th - Abbi Durow (15:24)
- 16th - Brooke O'Brien (15:27)
UNI MEN'S RESULTS (6K)
- 1st - Ethan Olds (18:24)
- 5th - AJ Willey (18:55)
- 7th - Cooper Erickson (18:58)
- 10th - Chase Lauman (19:11)
- 13th - Jonas VanDis (19:32)
- 15th - Ty Getz (19:44)
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.
