Roberson places first

ISU redshirt junior wrestler Zach Roberson, ranked No. 6 by InterMat, took first place honors in the 133-pound weight class Saturday as the ISU squad opened the 2002-03 season at the Cyclone Open at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Second place honors went to redshirt freshmen Jesse Sundell (125) and Nate Gallick (141) and newcomers Travis Paulson (149) and Trent Paulson (157). Redshirt freshman Grant Nakamura, senior Austen Palmer (184) and redshirt sophomore Wade McLeod (HWT) tallied third place finishes. Redshirt junior Nathan Meyer placed fifth at 157 pounds.The Cyclones next travel to Millersville, Pa., on Nov. 23 to compete against Millersville and Lock Haven before moving on to the Keystone Classic at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. 24.

Mwangong qualifies for championships

ISU senior Mike Mwangong qualified for his second career NCAA Cross Country Championships Saturday, placing third at the Midwest Regional (30:05.62) hosted by Illinois State. The top four men’s individual finishers and the top two teams earned automatic berths to the NCAA meet. The Cyclone men placed sixth out of 24 teams with 192 points. Iowa won the men’s 10,000-meter contest with 79 points. “We didn’t run very well,” ISU coach Corey Ihmels said. “We run like we did at conference and we’re third, so it’s kind of disappointing. Mike [Mwangong] and Grant [Shadden] were the two bright spots. Everyone else struggled.”

Senior Chris Francois was the second Cyclone to cross the finish line, placing 36th (30:57.54). He was followed by freshman Dan Taylor in 45th place (31:08.72), sophomore transfer Shadden in 48th place (31:11.74) and freshman Kristjan Hunter in 60th place (31:32.39). Iowa State’s women’s team finished 15th out of 23 teams with 332 points. Missouri won the 6,000-meter race with 63 points.

Junior Jessica Huff led the way for the Cyclone women with a sixth-place finish (20:51.05). Huff is in position to earn an at-large berth to compete in her first NCAA meet and will hear from the NCAA by today.

Senior Jessica Dahlberg was Iowa State’s second finisher, placing 60th in 22:15.42. Senior Cara Van Eck placed 81st (22:37.90), junior Darolyn Trembath placed 101st (23:03.40) and freshman Ada Anderson placed 108th (23:08.89).

– ISU Media Relations