The men’s cross country team started practice Aug. 14 with one goal in mind -to improve.

Coach Corey Ihmels is confident his team has the ability is to improve on its sixth-place finish in last year’s Big 12 championships.

“We weren’t real pleased with the [sixth-place] finish. Obviously we’re looking to improve on that finish this year,” Ihmels said.

“A top four [finish] would be a goal for us.”

Ihmels, who is a former cross country all-American runner and ISU graduate, said that this is one of the youngest teams he has coached in his five-year tenure while at Iowa State.

“We’re still probably considered a young team, but we’ve got some pretty experienced guys on the roster,” Ihmels said.

Senior Jonathan Reis, who is entering his fifth and final season running for the men’s cross country team, agreed.

“Most of the guys have been around and run a lot of races here,” Reis said.

“We didn’t lose anybody from the team last year and everyone will be a year better-maybe a couple of freshman will be able to step in. If any freshmen come along and do well, then great, you know, that’s a bonus.”

Improving on their sixth-place finish will not come easy, however. The Big 12 had four teams – Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma State and Kansas – ranked in the top 20 of the final United States Cross Country Coaches Association poll last season.

Ihmels said because of the stiff competition that comes with running in the Big 12, his team must be ready to step up their performance to finish higher in the conference.

“It’s going to be a battle.,” he said. “You’re going to have to be ready when the conference meet rolls around.

Despite the competition, Ihmels said his runners have put in the necessary work this off-season to improve their standing in the conference.

“I challenged the group at the end of last year,” Ihmels said. “I told them if we’re going to climb the ladder in the Big 12 to get the work done this summer.”

“Everybody is healthy and fit and [has] really done their homework this summer, so that’s exciting.”

Kiel Uhl, who was the only Cyclone to qualify for Nationals last year, is expected to lead the young group of runners. Uhl won the USA Junior National Cross Country Championship this summer in New York, when he ran a personal best in the 8K race that featured many top runners from around the United States.

Guor Marial, redshirt freshman, said the level of commitment that this team has to improving is something it didn’t have last year.

“The guys on the team now are all committed to competing at a high level and trying to perform real well this season and in the Big 12,” Marial said.

Coach Ihmels identified Marial as one of the runners to watch, along with Uhl and seniors Dan Taylor and David Rotich. With this core of runners, Ihmels thinks the team can make some noise at this year’s Big 12 Championships in October.

“It’s probably the most talented and best prepared team since I’ve been here,” Coach Ihmels said.

The team begins their season on Sept. 1 when they run in the Drake Fall Classic in Des Moines.

Men’s cross country roster

Chris Legore Jr. Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Leif Lomeland Jr. Page, Ariz.

Guor Marial So. Concord, N.H.

Richard Newton So. Preston, England

Kyle Rasmussen Sr. Owatonna, Minn.

Johnny Reel So. Carlock, Ill.

Jon Reis Sr. Fort Atkinson, Iowa

Ricky Reusser Jr. Middleton, Wis.

John Ricardi So. Gardiner, Mont.

Brandon Rooney So. Tehachapi, Calif.

David Rotich Sr. Eldoret, Kenya

Dan Taylor Sr. Fort Dodge, Iowa

Kiel Uhl So. Prole, Iowa

Andrew Vos So. Fort Atkinson, Wis.

Joey Zunich So. Williston, N.D.