Dan Curts was the lone ISU men’s runner to compete at the NCAA Cross-Country Championship in 2014. 

Curts, who became the first freshman ISU men’s runner to qualify since 2008, will attempt to repeat with another appearance in 2015 and may have some company.

Curts finished 10th at the Big 12 Championship, fifth at the NCAA Midwest Regional and 205th at the NCAA Championship last year. 

The Cyclones fell just short of qualifying as an at-large selection to the NCAA Championship last year after finishing third at both the Big 12 Championship and NCAA Midwest Regional. 

This year, the team not only returns Curts as a sophomore, but adds Thomas Pollard, who was named the Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year in Iowa on June 19. Pollard is also a two-time cross-country Athlete of the Year in Iowa. 

Iowa State will begin its quest for a 2015 qualifying bid to nationals under Martin Smith, third-year director of men’s and women’s track and cross-country, Sept. 4 at the Hawkeye Early Bird Invitational in Iowa City.  

2015 schedule

Friday, Sept. 4 – Hawkeye Early Bird Invitational in Iowa City

Saturday, Sept. 26 – Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn.

Saturday, Oct. 16 – Wisconsin Adidas Invitational – Madison, Wis.

Saturday, Oct. 31 – Big 12 Championship in Stillwater, Okla.

Friday, Nov. 13 – NCAA Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kan.

Saturday, Nov. 21 – NCAA Championship in Louisville, Ky.