IOWA CITY, IA – The Milwaukee women's cross country team opened the 2022 season with an impressive showing in the 4,000m race at the Hawkeye Invite Friday evening in Iowa City, IA.
 
Milwaukee finished the Hawkeye Invite with 50 points for a second place finish behind host Iowa.
 
"Early on in the season, we're just really focusing on the technical execution of racing" said assistant coach Jake Reilly. The more they can execute the technical side of the race, the better, and they're going to be off by the end of the season."
 
Seniors Meg Swietlik and Emily Burns kickstarted the season off by leading the charge for MKE on Friday. Swietlik crossed the line in 15:32.36 for 17^th on the day, while Burns clocked in right behind in 15:36.05 for 19^th place.
 
In her first collegiate race, freshman Faith Nead threw down a time of 15:42.87 coming in third for the Panthers and good enough for 21^st overall.
 
Senior Madison Hughes and freshman Anna Gallagher rounded out the top 25, with Hughes crossing the line at 15:48.90 and Gallagher at 15:49.06.
 
Freshman Anelise Egge (15:55.14) and sophomore Cailin Kinas (15:55.89) rounded out the scoring on the day placing 26^th and 27^th respectively.
 
"I'm very happy with how things started with us," Panther head coach Andrew Basler said. "From an outsider looking in at the results, might not see positive with it, but Coach Reilly always has a strategic race plan and a purpose. The first race was about running and getting faster at the split, and we accomplished that."
 
The Black & Gold is back in action next Friday, September 9, at the Phoenix Open in Green Bay, Wis.