AMES – Iowa State Men’s and Women’s Cross Country will compete at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday.
The Cyclone women have steadily improved every week in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national poll. The women began the season receiving votes and are now ranked 16th in the nation.
“It’s just the beginning,” director of cross country Jeremy Sudbury said in a press release following the Gans Creek Invitational. “Much more to come from them.”
Part of the reason for that optimism is the explosive performance by freshman Mercyline Kirwa at the Gans Creek Invitational in Columbia, Missouri, in late September. In Kirwa’s first collegiate race, she finished third and earned Big 12 Women’s Runner of the Week honors following the race.
Kirwa is the second runner from Iowa State to receive this award this season, as redshirt freshman Betty Kipkore earned this recognition after her first race at the Cyclone Preview on Aug. 29.
The Cyclones will rely on the star power of Kirwa, Kipkore and senior Maelle Porcher this Friday, as all three of them finished in the top 20 at the Gans Creek Invitational last month. Iowa State is rounded out by sophomore Ruby Hughes and junior Sydney Morrell as well as freshmen Maya Ledesma and sophomore Olivia Verde.
The Nuttycombe Invitational features 19 teams ranked in the most recent USTFCCCA poll, including six of the top 10 teams. The Cyclones slot in as the 10th-highest-ranked team at the meet, which provides the team with a strong opportunity to continue climbing the rankings.
After the women compete, the Iowa State men will have a prime opportunity to continue separating themselves from the rest of the pack in the national cross country rankings.
Joash Ruto, the sophomore from Nakuru, Kenya, aims to back up his second-place finish at the Gans Creek Invitational. That runner-up finish earned him Big 12 Men’s Runner of the Week honors, as the Cyclones cruised to a first-place team finish in Missouri.
Sophomore Robin Kwemoi Bera, Sanele Masondo, senior Rodgers Kiplimo and freshman Meshack Kimutai will likely round out the top five runners for the Cyclones this Friday. Juniors Devan Kipyego, Ryan Watts and Hanibal Haile will provide insurance and compete for personal honors as well.
All five of Iowa State’s scoring finishers finished in the top 20 at the Gans Creek Invitational. That level of dominance has allowed the Cyclones to remain as the unanimous No. 1 in the Cross Country Coaches’ Poll.
The Invitational features 18 ranked teams in the Week 3 USTFCCCA national rankings, including 13 top-20 teams. No. 1 Iowa State, No. 3 New Mexico, No. 5 Colorado, No. 6 BYU, No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 9 Notre Dame account for the six top-10 teams at the meet.
The Nuttycombe Invitational will take place at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course at the University of Wisconsin.
The Cyclone women will compete in the Women’s 6k Championship at 11:50 a.m. Friday, while the Cyclone men will run in the Men’s 8k Championship at 12:30 p.m. Friday. Live results can be found on the PrimeTime Timing website.
