Approaching the end of the 2024 NCAA cross country season, the Iowa State men’s and women’s cross country teams had the chance to qualify for the 2024 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships at the Midwest Regional in Peoria, Illinois.
While both teams had a good showing at the regional meet, the men’s team qualified for the championship, while an individual runner will represent the women’s team.
Women’s Recap
In the women’s 6K, junior Maelle Porcher punched her ticket to the national championship meet after she posted a personal record time of 19:52.75. Porcher finished third in the region, behind Oklahoma’s Leah Jeruto (19:42.87) and Minnesota’s Ali Weimer (19:48.85). She was the only Cyclone on the women’s team to qualify for the National Championship.
Results from the rest of the women’s team include junior Riley Beach (18th, 20:20.75), senior Bella Heikes (21st, 20:22.50), freshman Ruby Hughes (20:47.53), sophomore Sheridan Wheeler (55th, 20:57.67), senior Taylor Briggs (58th, 20:58.84) and senior Kiki Connell (67th, 21:11.20). All but Wheeler and Connell ran personal records. Wheeler did, however, run a season-best.
Men’s Recap
In the men’s 10K, Iowa State punched its ticket as a team to the National Championship meet. The team placed second with 43 points, only behind Oklahoma State, who had 25.
Freshman Robin Kwemoi Bera and senior Said Mechaal led the way for the Cyclones. Both finished only a hundredth of a second apart, as Bera finished in third (29:09.34) and Mechaal finished in fourth (29:09.35). The two were beaten only by Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich (28:51.46) and Laban Kipkemboi (29:06.03).
Trailing Bera and Mechaal for Iowa State were seniors Gable Sieperda (11th, 29:26.48), Sanele Masundo (13th, 29:30.39), Silas Winters (15th, 29:42.93), Timothy Sindt (22nd, 29:53.85) and sophomore Ryan Watts (24th, 29:55.23).
Looking ahead to the National Championship Meet
The NCAA Division I NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place on Nov. 23 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Iowa State men’s team ranks fourth in the nation, behind BYU, Oklahoma State and Arkansas.
Porcher will look to improve upon her personal record set at the regional meet, as she will be the lone representative of the women’s team at the National Championship.
