By Adam Hensley
Aug. 19 marked the first day of official training for Iowa’s new-look cross-country team.
While new runners are scattered about the roster, the Hawkeyes’ biggest addition lies in the coaching staff.
Iowa hired Randy Hasenbank in early August to become the Hawks’ associate head coach, filling the vacancy Layne Anderson created after his decision to leave the program to become assistant track-and-field/cross-country coach for Tennessee.
“Layne has touched hundreds, if not thousands, of student-athletes lives during his time at Iowa,” Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said in a release at the time. “We are grateful for his dedication and passion as a Hawkeye the past 13 years and wish him well on his next journey with Tennessee.”
Hasenbank recently coached at Loyola-Chicago. In his five seasons as the head coach of both cross-country and track and field, Hasenbank won Horizon League Coach of the Year five times.
“I am excited to welcome Randy to our staff and the Hawkeye family,” said Hawkeye Director of Track and Field/Cross-Country Joey Woody in a release. “Randy brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that I believe will lead us to the top of the Big Ten.”
With a new coach, the Hawkeyes aim to better an up-and-down 2015 season.
While the women’s team finished third and fifth in its first two meets of the season, it failed to place better than seventh in its next four meets — capping the year with a 19th-place finish in the regional.
Madison Waymire was Iowa’s top finisher in each of its six meets. In a season that did not feature many highlights, the Grimes, Iowa, native ran the 10th-fastest 6,000-meter time (21:01.8) in school history at the Big Ten championship.
Iowa also added 16 freshmen on the women’s side.
Five freshmen also join a young men’s team seeking consistency in 2016.
Last season, the Hawkeye men were never consistent from meet to meet. In a stretch of four, they finished second, 20th, third, and 10th.
2015 was almost a rebuilding season for the men. Iowa ran numerous freshmen who were key.
Leading the way a season ago, the Hawkeyes’ big three of now-seniors Ben Anderson, Anthony Gregorio, and junior Michael Melchert return for their final seasons. Each was Iowa’s top finisher in at least one meet last fall.
Michael Melchert led the way in three meets. Just as Waymire, he, too, snagged a top-10 time in Hawkeye history; the Monticello native ranks 10th in the 8,000 meters after his 23:57.5 time at the Big Ten Championship. He also ran the fourth-best 3,000-meter and mile runs in school history during the 2016 indoor track season.
This year’s schedule features three home meets — a great difference compared with the lone home meet in 2015.
Hasenbank will make his Hawkeye début on Sept. 2, when Iowa kicks off its season with the Hawkeye Invitational at the Ashton Course.
Aside from that, Iowa City will host the regional preview on Oct. 1 and the NCAA regional on Nov. 11.