Members of the Iowa women’s cross-country team were pleasantly surprised with their finish at the 2009 Pre-National meet held at Indiana State University over the weekend.

After seven-consecutive years of competing in the event, the Hawkeyes finished eighth in the Blue flight — Iowa’s strongest finish ever at the meet.

Iowa sophomore Brooke Eilers finished first for Iowa with a time of 21:17 in the 6-kilometer race. She had never ended on top for the Hawkeyes in a meet until this season; she has now accomplished the feat twice in a row.

Eilers also came in first at the Wisconsin Invitational on Oct. 3.

In the 2008 Pre-National meet, the Hawkeyes finished ninth and Eilers placed second behind former teammate Racheal Marchand.

Iowa women’s cross-country head coach Layne Anderson said he was proud of his harriers for moving up a spot from last year’s place, even without Marchand.

Iowa sophomore Betsy Flood finishing second for the Hawkeyes, followed by Amanda Hardesty, Hannah Roeder, and Megan Lessard. Collectively, the five managed a 283 team score.

Fortunately for Iowa, none of the seven teams ending ahead of the Hawkeyes were from the Big Ten.

— by Michèle Danno