The ISU men’s cross country team continued to train while racing in a pre-meet open at home Saturday morning.

The Cyclones began the ISU Open steady and together as a group, a motto coach Corey Ihmels is stressing to his team this year.

“Coach [Ihmels] has really been putting emphasis on working and winning as a team,” said freshman Daniel Murray, who finished fourth overall and second for Iowa State. “I think it really showed in our races today.”

Teamwork definitely showed in the home meet, as all nine ISU runners finished in the top 12, including sophomore Johnny Reel, who placed third overall.

“Johnny really ran a great race today,” Murray said. “He has just been consistently doing well and improving each time, it seems.”

Reel managed to run the 8K in 26:25 minutes and, for the second weekend in a row, led the team.

While this race is Iowa State’s only home meet, the men are still looking ahead to the future races and the ones that matter more.

“This race was just another one to get people used to the runs and see where everyone stands at this point,” Murray said. “Our real focus is on the later races that will count the most.”

– Jessi Pierce

Caffery Leads Iowa State Women’s Cross Country at Home

The ISU women’s cross country team had an impressive home meet Saturday as ISU senior Dawn Caffrey finished first for the team and second overall at the ISU Open.

“I really didn’t even realize how far ahead I was until I finished,” Caffrey said. “I was just focused on pacing myself and getting there.”

Pacing and improving are something coach Corey Ihmels has been stressing to his runners this season.

“Coach Ihmels has really helped improve us this season,” Caffrey said. “I think some of us are running more mileage than we ever have before.”

Increased mileage in practice and warm-up meets like the one at home are all in effort to prepare for larger meets coming up.

“The Roy Griak Meet will definitely be a lot different from our last two [at Drake and Iowa State],” Caffrey said. “That’s a meet that will really test us a bit more than the one we ran this weekend.”

The team will continue their practice and preparation until the next race at the Roy Griak Invitational in two weeks in Minneapolis.

“We just hope to keep improving and keeping racing the way we know how to race,” Caffrey said. “I think we can do really well.”