Completed Event: Cross Country versus Cyclone Preview on August 29, 2025 , , Men: 1st, Women: 1st
Final
Cross Country
Cyclone Preview
Men: 1st, Women: 1st
Iowa State University Athletics
Nelson 1st, ISU Women 3rd At Adidas Invitational
10.17.2014 | Cross Country
MADISON, Wis. - The No. 8-ranked Iowa State women's cross country team ran to a third-place team finish this morning at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational behind an individual title from Crystal Nelson. The Cyclones knocked off 19 nationally-ranked programs in today's race.
Nelson broke the tape in 19:35, tying the fastest Cyclone individual performance at the invitational in program history (Betsy Saina, 2012). The Winchester, Virginia, native ran with the leaders throughout the race, taking the lead and pulling away from the group over the final kilometer of the race. Nelson, ranked No. 8 in the nation, entering the meet, took down five higher-ranked individuals en route to the title.
Nelson becomes the first Cyclone to run to an individual title at the meet, and her time of 19:35 marks the fastest 6K of her career, topping her previous best of 19:49 from last season's Big 12 Championships. Her time was just four seconds off of the course record, set last season by Abbey D'Agostino of Dartmouth.
Senior Katy Moen gave the Cyclones two top-5 finishers for the second-consecutive meet, placing fifth in 19:43. Moen's time ranks third in Cyclone-adidas history, and her fifth-place finish is the fourth-highest ever by a Cyclone. Moen will also likely see her stock rise in the national rankings, coming in at No. 21 before today's race. At 19:43, Moen also set a career-best 6K time.
Fifth-year transfer Margaret Connelly was the third Cyclone across the line in 20:26. Connelly moved up over the second half of the race, knocking off competitors throughout the final 3 kilometers to finish 24th overall.
Nelson (1st), Moen (5th) and Connelly (24th) made Iowa State one of two teams to place three runners in top-25 in today's race.
Perez Rotich and Erin Hooker rounded out the scoring effort, placing 79th and 103rd, respectively.
Iowa State moved up progressively throughout the race, sitting seventh overall after the opening 2 kilometers and fifth at the 4K mark. The team's third-place finish is two places higher and 23 points lower than last year's showing. The Cyclones strong performance came without 2013 All-American Bethanie Brown, who was sidelined for today's race.
Three Cyclones competed in the 'B' race in Julie Wiemerslage, Heidi Engelhardt and Maddie Nagle. Wiemerslage was the first across the line in 21:49. Engelhardt was next to finish in 22:17, with Nagle close behind in 22:28.
Next Time Out
The Iowa State women return to the course Nov. 1 in Lawrence, Kansas, at the 2014 Big 12 Championships. The Cyclones will be looking to take home their fourth-consecutive conference crown.
Team Results
1. Michigan State - 87
2. Arkansas - 191
3. Iowa State - 212
Individual Results 'A' Race
1) Crystal Nelson, Iowa State, 19:35; 5) Katy Moen, Iowa State, 19:43; 24) Margaret Connelly, Iowa State, 20:26; 79) Perez Rotich, Iowa State, 21:03; 103) Erin Hooker, Iowa State, 21:15; 152) Taylor McDowell, Iowa State, 21:41; 172) Colleen Riley, Iowa State, 21:51;
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