|
Analysis of the 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
by Mike Scott,
University of Rhode Island
Updated: 10 November
Introduction: The two top teams at each of the nine November 15 NCAA
D-1 Regional Meets will automatically advance to the NCAA D-1 Cross Country
Championships in Waterloo, Iowa on November 24.
13 more teams are selected one-at-a-time on an at large basis. The primary
criteria are (a) wins {aka, "points" or "auto wins"}
over teams already in the NCAA field, (b) head-to-head performance against
other bubble teams, and (c) other criteria, with (a) being the most important.
On the 1st round of at large selection, the 9 3rd-place teams {"bubble
teams"} from each regional are evaluated against each other for "auto
wins".
Once a team is selected for an at large berth, then the next team in
the region becomes the "bubble" teams and is evaluated in the
next round against the other bubble teams.
One other factor is that a bubble team team may be "pushed"
into the NCAA meet by a team behind it if the latter team has more wins
than any bubble team {may ONLY be used once per region, MUST be used the
1st applicable time in a region; maybe not be used on the 13 round}.
It's a predictable -- but complex -- process as long as you have accurate
data (win/loss data).
At this point, only about 5-6 likely bubble teams appear to be certain
to advance with at at-large invitation; the rest of the teams really depend
upon the regional results. If anything, things appear to be more wide
open than usual.
WEST
Top-rated Stanford is the best in the west, while the fight for the second
auto could be fierce between Arizona State and UCLA which were separated
by a mere point at the Pac-10 champs; whichever finishes third is virtually
certain to earn an at large. UC Santa Barbara is rated fourth ahead of
perennial NCAA qualifier Washington, but both will be dependent upon team
battles in other regions to determine their at large chances.
In addition to standout athletes from Stanford (led by Alicia Craig,
Sara Bei, and Ari Lambie), Arizona State (led by Amy Hastings), and UCLA
(led by Valerie Flores), the top individuals include Oregon's Magdalena
Sandoval, USC's Iryna Vashchuk, Washington's Ingvill Maestad, UCSB's Lauren
Christman and Stephanie Rothstein, San Diego's Tiffany Marley, San Diego
State's Marie Nilsson, and Portland's Ashley Vincent,
1. Stanford (West)
Despite coaching changes and the loss of 3-time NCAA 5k champion Lauren
Fleshman and mile standout Malindi Elmore, the Cardinal appears set for
another run at the NCAA harrier crown. Following the departure of Stanford
mentor Vin Lannana for greener pastures (well, at least Ohio), former
All-American Dena Evans was promoted to Head Women's Coach.
NCAA 10k champ Alicia Craig finished 3rd in Terre Haute last fall and
will lead Stanford this fall and should be joined up front by teammate
Sara Bei (57th). Jeane Goff and Anita Siraki round out the NCAA returnees
for the Cardinal. Coach Evans scored big with this year's recruiting class,
nailing down one of the fastest prep milers of all time Ari Lambie --
who also won the ever-competitive Foot Locker NE regional before succumbing
to illness at the FL finals -- along with the talented Trotter twins --
Kathleen (2nd at Foot Locker championships) and Amanda. Stanford dominated
its season opener at the 8/30 Bronco Invite with Sara Bei, Katy Trotter,
Jeane Goff, and Amanda Trotter all finishing together in the top four
spots; Craig and Lambie didn't appear at the opener.
Like their rivals at BYU, Stanford's team's first serious outing -- at
their own 9/27 invite -- didn't quite turn out as planned. Coach Evans
split her squad between the 4K (Bei, Lambie, A. Trotter) and 6K (Craig,
McWalters, K. Trotter, Goff, Siraki) races -- both teams, incidentally,
would likely qualify as "A" teams under NCAA guidelines -- and
were upset by Cal and UCLA respectively. Bei and Lambie simply dominated
the 4K, while Craig destroyed the field (and course record) over 6K. The
Cardinal demonstrated their strength the following weekend with a dominating
1-2-3-4-5-6-7 finish at the 10/4 Murray Keating Inv; although they were
racing a passel of unranked teams, Stanford's Seven crossed the finish
line together with a 13-sec lead over the next runner.
Stanford's run in the Pre-NCAA Gold race moved them from mere contenders
for the NCAA team crown to the favorite. Craig and Bei finished 1-2 in
the Pre-NCAA Gold Race with the 2nd and 3rd fastest times of the day,
while Lambie finished 5th (9th fastest time); backing up this exceptional
trio were Katy Trotter (23rd, 48th fastest) and Jeane Goff (35th, 75th
fastest) who helped the Cardinal to a 1:26 1-5 split. Missing from the
Stanford lineup was McWalters, who claimed 2nd a couple weeks ago at the
Stanford Inv 6K and would be expected to finish among the overall top
15 (who ran this weekend). Stanford's Bei, Craig, and Lambie claimed 1-2-3
at the Pac-10 champs; that trio combined with the Trotter twins (McWalters
was missing again from the lineup) for a 50-sec 1-5 split over 6K. Unlike
last year, the Cardinal has the deepest squad among the title contenders
and could absorb an off day by one of the top 5.
Returnees: Alicia Craig (3rd, 28th '01; 15:25.75, 32:40.03, NCAA 10k
Champ), Sara Bei (57th, 89th '01; '00 FL Champ; 16:03.08; 13th out 5k;
USA Jr '01 3k champ), Jeane Goff (128th, 4:26, 10:23.08s/c), Anita Siraki
(110th, 2nd '00 FL' 9:47i); Kristen Cohoon (10:04.77; 17:08), Yfa Kretzschmar
(2:10.05, 5:01.95y);
Newcomers: Ari Lambie (22nd FL, 1st FL NE; 2:45.46NR, 4:20.2, 4:37.23y,
10:11.9y), Kathleen Trotter (2nd FL, 2:11.32, 4:50.32y, 10:30.47y, ) Amanda
Trotter (2:11.37, 4:54.43y, 10:32.11y), Teresa McWalters, Julie Allen
(11th '01 FL; 4:59.27y, 10:37.75y)
11. Arizona State (West)
The Sun Devils finished 23rd in both '01 and '03 and return six from last
year's NCAA squad. Amy Hastings, the USA 5000m Junior Champ, will lead
Arizona State this fall just as she led the US Junior Team at last spring's
World XC Champs. ASU dominated their cross-state rivals Arizona at the
9/19 Dave Murray Invitation, with Amy Hasting leading a tightly-packed
22-second 1-5 spread (4.3K) that included Anna Masinelli, newcomer Jessica
Crate, Desiree Davila, and Amanda Lyon. The same quintet surprised at
Griak, notching a comfortable win with a 65-sec 1-5 spread over 6k; Hastings
finished 3rd individually while Masinelli was 7th. The Sun Devils dominated
their 10/10 home meet over a weak field; Hastings, Crate, and Masinelli
went 1-2-3, with Davila and Lyon also finishing within 50-secs of Hastings.
The Sun Devils were a distant second to Stanford at Pac-10s and narrowly
edged 3rd place UCLA by a single point; Hastings finished 4th and led
Masinelli, Davila, Lyon, and Crate to a 1:40 1-5 gap.
Returnees: Amy Hastings (92nd, 20th WJrXC), Desiree Davila (150th, 205th
'01), Anne Marie Masinelli (157th), Jessica Scalzo (169th), Amanda Fitz-Gustafson
(209th), Liz Lindgren (223rd)
Newcomers: Jessica Crate
15. UCLA (West)
The Bruins finished 25th in Terre Haute. 2002 NCAA 1500 champ Lena Nilsson
claimed 17th individually at last year's NCAA meet but has yet to appear
in UCLA's lineup. Newcomer Allison Costello led the Bruins "B"
team at the 9/13 Aztec Invitational, with Ashley Caldwell, Sarah West,
Carolyn Shea, and Emily Haigh rounding out the UCLA scorers. With only
a BYU "B" team to contend with in Hawaii (9/20), the Bruins
notched a win with Caldwell leading Jenny Timinsky, Costello, Valerie
Flores, and West to a 27-sec 1-5 spread over 4K. UCLA continued on their
streak the following week with a convincing win over an understrength
(but still strong) Stanford squad; Flores led Costello, Timinsky, Ashley
Caldwell, and McBain to a 43-sec 1-5 split over 6K. Carmen Winant and
West led a UCLA "B" squad edged UC Irvine for the win at 10/11
UC San Diego Triton Classic; interestingly, Alejandra Barrientos ran unattached
and finished 7th (ahead of Winant) at Triton. Flores finished 8th in the
Pre-NCAA Gold race to lead the Bruins to 5th behind Stanford, NC St, Colorado,
and Wake Forest; Flores combined with Costello, Caldwell, Hall, and Timinsky
for a 73-sec 1-5 split. UCLA claimed a close 3rd at Pac-10s behind Stanford
and Arizona State; Flores led Caldwell, Costello, McBain, and Winat to
a 72-sec 1-5 gap.
Returnees: ?Lena Nilsson (17th, 135th '01; 4:07.69, '01 1500 champ, 2nd
'02 1500), Alejandra Barrientos (86th, 125th '01), Valerie Flores (180th,
127th '01; 19th FL '99), Jenna Timinsky (206th; 2:07), Carmen Winant (207th),
Allison Hall (224th), Lori Mann (245th, 190th '01), Ashley Caldwell (),
Sarah West ()
Newcomers: Allison Costello
23. U.C. Santa Barbara (West)
UC Santa Barbara finished 2nd at the Big West Champs and 8th at regionals
in 2002. UCSB took the 9/19 Riverside Invite with Desiree Leek leading
a 36-second 1-5 gap. The Gouchos finished 7th at the 10/3 Notre Dame invite,
with Lauren Christman, Cosette Smith, Stephanie Rothstein, Desiree DeJesus,
and Lindsay Christman combining for a 58-second 1-5 split. The Gauchos
finished 9th in the Pre-NCAA Purple race off a 68-sec 1-5 spread by Christman,
Rothstein, Smith, Desiree Leek, and Tiffany Armel. UCSB won the Big West
meet, with Rothstein, Christman, Smith, and Leek sweeping the first 4
individual places and combining with Martin for a 1:22 1-5 spread.
Returnees: Desiree Leek (4:33.18), Cosette Smith (16:44.18), Desiree
DeJesus (17:05.30), Tiffany DeJesus, Lauren Christman (4:36.89), Lindsay
Christman, Stephanie Rothstein (17:47.01),
Newcomers: Bethany Nickless (10:44.50y)
37. Washington (West)
Washington finished 31st at the 2002 NCAA meet. The Dawgs won the 9/6
Emerald City meet and the 9/27 Sundodger meet; at the latter meet, Amy
Lia led Lindsey Egerdahl, Laura Hodgson, Brianna McLeod, and Marie Foushee
to an excellent 15-second 1-5 split. Egerdahl led the Huskies to 6th at
the 10/3 Notre Dame Invite behind Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Penn State,
Duke, and Vanderbuilt; Egerdahl was joined by Lia, Foushee, Gibbs, and
Touren for a 37-sec 1-5 spread. Norwegian recruit Maakstad (9:25 3k) finally
appeared in the Pre-NCAA Gold race as the Huskies claimed 16th; Egerdahl,
Lia, Gibbs, Maakstad, and Hodgson combined for a 1:30 1-5 spread (most
of that due to a strong 32nd-place effort by Egerdahl). The Huskies claimed
4th at Pac-10s behind Stanford, Arizona State, and UCLA; Maakstad stepped
up to lead Lia, Williams, McLeod, Egerdahl to a 1:34 1-5 split.
Returnees: Lindsey Egerdahl (156th; 2:10, 4:32), Laura Halvorsen (216th),
Laura Hodgson (228th; 2nd USA Jr XC, WXC Team), Jamie Gibbs (242nd; 113th
'01; 9:58, 16:58), Camille Connelly (235th '01; 9:58, 10:52s/c) Chessa
Adsit-Morris
Newcomers: Brianna McLeod (3x OK champ; 3rd Jr 3000, 4:50y, 9:45), Ingvill
Maakestad (NOR; NOR XC runner-up; 2:04.38, 9:25 '02), Marie Foushee (Wa
AAA XC Champ; 5:04, 11:00), Dallon Williams (6th CA XC; 2:15, 5:01y);
Kira Harrison (2:12, 5:01, 11:16), Amy Lia (2:15, 5:05),
--. Idaho (West)
The Vandals finished 6th at last fall's West regional. Letiwe Marakurwa,
4th in the NCAA steeple, leads Idaho in their quest for a berth. The Vandals
opened with a win at the Idaho Jamboree, then finished 2nd to Washington
at the 9/27 Sundodger meet. Marakurwa finished 3rd to lead Idaho to a
71-sec 1-5 spread in Seattle, then finished 15th in the Pre-NCAA Gold
race to lead the Vandals to 15th and a 1:48 1-5 gap. The Vandals finished
3rd at Big Wests with Murdoch, Macalister, Kennelly, Olson, and Ouwerkerk
to a 33-sec 1-5 gap.
Returnees: Letiwe Marakurwa (ZIM; 4th NCAA s/c; 9:52s/c), Daniela Pogorzelski
(GER; 2:09, 4:25, 10:32s/c), Tania Vader Meulen (CAN; 10:44s/c), Bevin
Kennelly (CAN; 2x Canadian Jr steeple champ), Alisha Murdoch (2:12)
Newcomers: Mandy Macalister (CAN; WJrXC, BC Jr 5k Champ), Dee Olson (4:35),
Melinda Ouwerkerk, Kendra Colyar
--. Portland (West)
Portland, sans Nicole Ricci, finished 3rd at the 9/27 Sundodger Inv behind
Washington and Idaho. The Pilots finished third again at the 10/4 Willamette
Inv behind Marquette and Nevada, then claimed 22nd in the Pre-NCAA Gold
race. Portland won the West Coast Conference title, with Vincent, Rice,
Siebol, Rohde, and Smith splitting 26-secs.
Returnees: Nicole Ricci (56th '00; 9:28, 16:34), Alison Smith (4:36),
Hannah Coombe (17:49)
Newcomers: Ashley Vincent (x-fer from W. Wash; 16:59), Breanne Siebol
(Wa AA champ)
--. Oregon (West)
The Ducks begin a new era this fall, competing for the first time without
long-time mentor Tom Heinonen at the helm; Marnie Mason is the new Oregon
coach. The Ducks claimed 4th at the 9/27 Sundodger Inv behind Magdalena
Sandoval's runner-up finish, then 7th at the 10/4 Willamette Inv. Sandoval
won the Open race at Pre-NCAAs. Oregon claimed 5th at Pac-10s behind Stanford,
Arizona State, UCLA, and Washington.
Returnees: Laura Harmon (4:29.49, 17:12.04), Eri Macdonald (2:06.37,
4:25.81), Magdalena Sandoval (16:45.91, 36:30.65), Alicia Snyder-Carlson
(10:57.72s/c), Annette Mosey (4:35.78)
Newcomers: none of note
--. California (West)
The Bears surprised a split Stanford squad over 4K at the 9/27 Stanford
Invite. Bridget Duffy led Christy Borak, Abby Parker, Lindsey Maclise,
and Maja Ruznic to a 36-second 1-5 gap in Palo Alto. Cal then fell to
9th at the 10/3 Notre Dame Inv with the same lineup. Duffy again led Cal
in the Pre-NCAA Purple race, but since the Bears were missing Borak and
Parker from their lineup, the best they could must at UNI was 29th. Cal
finished last at the Pac-10 meet.
Returnees: Bridget Duffy, Abby Parker, Lindsey Maclise, Maja Ruznic
Newcomers: Christy Borak, Samantha Jones, Eva Markeiwicz
NORTHEAST
Providence and Columbia should be locks for the two auto qualifiers. Boston
College appears to be the best of the rest, but will be relying on some
upsets in other regions to advance on an at large berth.
Providence's Kim Smith is one of just a couple athletes who might be
able to run with defending NCAA champ Shalane Flanagan and should be joined
at the front of the region by teammate Mary Cullen. In addition to Caitlin
Hickin, Lisa Stublic, and their Columbia teammates, the other top individuals
in the region include: Boston College's Jennifer Kramer and Jennifer Donovan,
Iona's Emily Chellanga and Michelle Gallagher, Stonybrook's Jackie Nunez,
Yale's Cara Kiernan and Melissa Donais, Rhode Island's Kristen Coon, New
Hampshire's Leslie Read, Dartmouth's Melanie Schorr, and Connecticut's
Kristin Meyer.
8. Providence (Northeast)
Perennial top-10 power Providence returns four from their sixth-place
squad, and gain two impact runners. All-American Mary Cullen (28th) blossomed
last year to twice break 16:00 and garner 4th in the NCAA outdoor 5k.
Deirdre Byrne, Lisa Cappello, and Roisin Quinn also return from last year's
NCAA squad. Kimberly Smith and Fiona Crombie, a pair of New Zealand imports,
should immediately help the Friars; Smith ran 9:09.96 and 15:47.92 this
spring, while Crombie competed outdoors for PC. PC opened by hosting Rhode
Island and New Hampshire on 9/5; Smith and Cullen "jogged" away
from the field, while Byrne and Crombie were 20 secs back with Cappello
another 40 seconds behind. PC then dominated the 9/12 BC Select meet,
with Cullen, Smith, Crombie and Byrne finishing 1-2-5-6; with Cappello
sitting out the race, Katie Twarog was the Frairs' 5th. Smith controlled
the Griak Gold race to notch the individual win, while Cullen claimed
8th; however, this was not enough to compensate for the Friar's lack of
a quality fifth runner (2:15 1-5 spread) as PC could only muster 4th behind
Arizona State, Michigan State, and Columbia. Coach Treacy worked his magic
on his squad between Griak and the 10/18 Penn State Invite, where the
Friars not only finished 1-2 overall, but Lisa Cappello improved significantly
to finish 4th among the PC squad helping reduce the Friars' 1-5 spread
down to a respectable 71-sec off of two potential top-10 contenders. Although
Smith and Cullen finished 1-2 at Big Easts, the Friars fell short of Notre
Dame's winning effort; Smith, Cullen, Crombie, Byrne, and Cappello were
spread out over 2:19.
Returnees: Mary Cullen (28th, 214th '01; 9:09.13, 15:56.96; 5th 5k), Deirdre
Byrne (71st, 114th '01; 4:26.86), Lisa Cappello (176th, 196th '01, 180th
'00), Roisin Quinn (249th), Ashley Jensen, Katie Twarog
Newcomers: Kimberly Smith (NZL; '02 & '03 WXC; 4:18.09, 9:09.96, 15:47.92);
Fiona Crombie (NZL; 4:48y, 9:45);
9. Columbia (Northeast)
The Lions won their first ever Heps title in 2002 before winning the regional
title and claiming 11th at the NCAA meet. Columbia adds Duke transfer
Caroline Bierbaum (34th), Cal champ Laura Meyers, and top Foot Locker
regional performers Genevieve Chavez and Susannah Shaw to the strong returning
quintet of Loretta Kilmer, Caitlin Hickin, Melissa Stellato, Tenke Zoltani,
and Lisa Stublic; according to the Columbia Spectator, Trish Nolan will
miss the season due to a stress fracture . The Lions featured a strong
33-second 1-5 gap at Griak to claim 3rd behind Arizona State and Michigan
State; Bierbaum finished 247th out of 248 in the official results. Columbia's
"B" squad won the 10/3 METs the following weekend. Columbia
switched from Pre-NCAAs to Penn State at the last minute, and fell to
Providence 49-58. The Lions' 1-5 split (Hickin, Stublic, Zoltani, Stellato,
Guerrero) increased a bit to 47-seconds. Columbia edged Princeto 33 to
38 at the Heps, with Hickin, Stublic, Stellato, Kilmer, and Zoltani combining
for a 39-sec 1-5 split over 5K.
Returnees: Loretta Kilmer (48th, 163rd '01; 34:47.46), Caitlin Hickin
(97th, 20th '01, 90th '00; 16:32.66 '02), Melissa Stellato (101st, 152nd
'01, 164th '00; 4:30.67, 16:47.41), Tenke Zoltani, (142nd), Lisa Stublic
(144th; 16:52.75); Redshirting: Trish Nolan (stress fracture; 62nd, 165th
'01; 16:45.50 '02),
Newcomers: Caroline Bierbaum (x-fer from Duke; 34th), Nicci Fish (10:50),
Genevieve Chavez (10th FL S), Susannah Shaw (10th FL W; 4:53), Laura Meyers
(CA D-4 XC Champ; 11:00)
26. Boston College (Northeast)
Hampered by injuries and illness in 2002, Boston College -- 6th in 2001
-- had the distinction of being the best team in the country not to qualify
for the NCAA meet. 2001 USA Junior champ Maria Cicero, 16th in her collegiate
debut and 18th at the 2002 champs, returned to lead the Eagles after recovering
from an early-season bout with mono; Cicero, however, suffered a stress
fracture mid-summer and hasn't appeared this fall. Also returning with
NCAA experience are Jennifer Kramer and Jennifer Donovan (9th NCAA s/c),
while National Scholastic indoor 5k winner Jesse Mizzone joins the squad.
The Eagles sat out Cicero, Laura Smith, and Laurel Burdick at the 9/12
season opener and finished a distant 2nd to Providence. With all but Cicero
racing in Minnesota, the Eagles could only muster a 14th-place team finish;
Kramer and Donovan finished 10th and 14th, but the scoring 5 were spread
out over 2minutes. Kramer and Donovan finished 9th and 21st respectively
in the Pre-NCAA Purple race to lead the Eagles to 11th; in Cicero's continued
absence, that duo led Jessica Flinn, Burdick, and Anne Hessburg to a 1:55
1-5 spread. Kramer finished 4th at Big Easts to lead the Eagles to 5th
in the team standings; Kramer, Donovan, Burdick, Flinn, and Smith combined
for a 1:52 1-5 split.
Returnees: Maria Cicero (18th, 16th '01; USA Jr Champ; 9:31.85, 17:05.40),
Jennifer Kramer (119th '01, 97th '00; 4:23.56, 9:38.18i, 17:13.26i), Jennifer
Donovan (183rd '01; 9:32.50i, 10:04.52s/c), Laura Smith (151st 00; 17:04.67),
Laurel Burdick (22nd FL), Daniel Jelley, Anne Hessberg, Alexis Lake
Newcomers: Jesse Mizzone (10:07.5i, 10:44.85, NSIC 5k champ), Jessica
Flinn (NH state champ)
--. Dartmouth (Northeast)
Dartmouth finished 5th at the 2002 NE regional. Former All-American Maribel
Sanchez replaces Ellen O'Neil (who left for Smith College over the summer)
as cross country coach. Dartmouth opened with an easy win at the 9/13
Dartmouth Invite, then finished 4th at the 9/27 Iona MOC behind Princeton,
Yale, and Pittsburgh. Dartmouth finished 13th in the Pre-NCAA Gold race
behind Melanie Schorr's 38th-place effort; Schorr combined with Steel,
Ettensohn, Smith, and Burke for a 64-sec 1-5 gap. Schorr led Dartmouth
to 3rd at Heps, with Schorr, Ettenson, Burke, Steel, and Smith notching
a 56-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Nicole Kelleher (182nd '01), Kristen Ettensohn (199th '01),
Cecily Garber (206th '01), Kristin Andrews, Megan Olds (2:13.3), Melanie
Schorr, Betsy Burke, Tessa Steele
Newcomer: Vanessa Cruz
--. Yale (Northeast)
Following the graduation of Kate and Laura O'Neill, Yale will be in a
rebuilding mode this year. Rebecca Hunter and Melissa Donais are expected
to lead the Bulldogs. Yale finished a distant third at the 9/13 Georgetown
Invite and a distant 2nd at the 9/26 Iona MOC behind Ivy-rival Princeton.
Donais led Yale at Iona, which spread out over 72-sec for their 1-5 runners.
At the 27th annual HYP meet, Yale lost to Princeton, but downed Harvard;
newcomer Cara Kiernan led Yale, with Donais and Hunter also finishing
in the top 10. The Bulldogs finished 16thin the Pre-NCAA Purple race,
with Kiernan, Donais, Chan, Martin, and Vince combining for a 46-sec 1-5
split. Kiernan led Yale to 4th at Heps with a 5th-place individual effort;
Kiernan combined with Chan, Martin, N. Sawicki, and Vince for a 63-sec
1-5 split, while Hunter finished out of the top 5, A. Sawicki missed the
race due to an allergic reaction, and Donais took a spill in the back
woods and finished out of the squad's top 7.
Returnees: Rebecca Hunter, Melissa Donais ('99 FL; '02 Millrose Mile
champ), Alexandra Sawicki (171st '01), Julia Pudlin (8th FL '00; 10:27.51y),
Emily Vince, Hannah Oberman-Breindl, Katie Matlack
Newcomer: Cara Kiernan (14th FL), Catie Markesich, Katie DeWitt, Ashley
Campbell, Jackie Myers, Julia Emanuelle
--. New Hampshire (Northeast)
The Wildcats feature a strong foursome in Leslie Read, Caitlin Hayes,
Megan Hepp, and Katie Litwinowich but are searching for a fifth. UNH finished
third behind Providence and Rhode Island at the 9/5 Providence Invite
with Litwinowich on the sidelines, but then won the 9/20 Central Connecticut
Inv. The Wildcats then claimed fourth behind Stanford, Florida, and Oklahoma
at the 10/4 Murray Keating Inv. UNH earned runner-up honors behind D-III
#1 Middlebury at the 10/18 Albany Invite. Read claimed individual runner-up
honors to lead the Wildcats to the American East title; Read combined
with Hayes, Hepp, Litwinowich, and March to a 72-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Leslie Read (5:01.58y), Caitlin Hayes (10:04.49i, 36:08.34),
Megan Hepp (10:07.44i, 10:38s/c, 16:56.65), Katie Litwinowich (2:11.58,
2:53.59i 1k, 4:29.87), Alison March
Newcomers: Emily Mareb, Ashley Vance
--. Cornell (Northeast)
Cornell finished 6th at the 2002 NE regional. Mandy Knuckles, Nyam Kagwima,
Megs DiDario, Natalie Gingerich, and Angela Kudla combined to help edge
Army in a 26-33 dual meet at Cornell on 9/12. The Big Red claimed 7th
at the 9/27 Iona MOC and again at the 10/4 Paul Short Inv, with Knuckles
leading a 49-second 1-5 spread at the former event and 34-secs at the
latter meet. Cornell then claimed 7th at the 10/18 Penn State National
Inv and 5th at Heps.
Returnees: Kate Boyles (10th '00 FL), Jessica Parrott (156th '01), Kari
Haus (168th '01), Christy Planer (4:58.61y, 11:03.52y), Angela Kudla ('00
FL; NY "B" champ), Emily McCabe (9:54, 17:36), Alyssa Simon
(10:48s/c), Sarah Coseo (4:30, 9:58); Redshirting: Amber McGown (170th
'01; semester in France), Jenn Meil (semester in Equador)
Newcomers: Christy Paul (OR state XC Champ, 10:08), Robyn Ellerbrock (7:09
2k s/c), Megs DiDario, Nyam Kagwima (2:16, 5:01)
--. Stony Brook (Northeast)
The Seawolves finished 8th in NE regional. Jackie Nunez and Leonora Joy
finished 1-2 to lead Stony Brook to a win at their own 9/6 Seawolves Invite.
Nunez won the 10/3 METs, but her understrength team finished 7th. Nunez
won the 10/18 Albany Inv, but her team could only claim 5th. Nunez continued
her undefeated fall with a win at the American East meet to lead her teammates
to runner-up honors behind UNH; the Seawolves combined for a 1:41 1-5
split.
Returnees: Jackie Nunez, Leonora Joy (2nd NZL XC Champs; 2:11.92, 4:25,
9:27.01), Laura Hixson, Lauren Gengo
Newcomers: Liz Carlson
--. Brown University (Northeast)
The Bears finished 7th at last year's NCAA NE regional. Brown finished
3rd behind Providence and Boston College at the 9/12 BC select meet and
5th at the 9/27 Iona MOC, behind Princeton, Yale, Pittsburgh, and Dartmouth;
Anna Willard led the Bears in Boston and New York. Brown dominated the
10/10 New Englands over a field that consisted mostly of D-2 and D-3 teams;
Anya Davidson, Willard, Rachel Kitson, Caci Cambruzzi, and Julie Komosinski
combined for 28-sec 1-5 split. Brown finished 8th at Heps, with the top
five finishing within 7.7 seconds -- however the top finisher was 34th.
Meets: 10/31 HEPs (NYC), 11/15 NE Champs (Boston)
Returnees: Meredith Crocker, Anna Willard, Nora Sullivan, Kristin Ware,
Anya Davidon
Newcomers: Michol Monaghan, Heather Driscoll, Kathleen Loughlin
--. Boston University (Northeast)
BU finished 7th at the 2002 NE regional. The Terriers won their 9/12 quad,
then finished 13th at the 9/27 Iona MOC, before claiming 7th at 10/10
New Englands and 4th at America East.
Returnees: Dina Mijuskovic (4:36, 9:56); Jessica Iannacci (5:03.54i,
17:16.03), Julie Nazzer (11:07.07s/c)
Newcomer:
MID ATLANTIC
The Mid Atlantic region is pretty wide open, with Princeton, Georgetown,
Penn State, and Villanova all vying for the two auto qualifiers. Princeton
beat Georgetown at Pre-NCAAs, but the Hoyas were missing two top-5 runners
from their lineup in Waterloo (one of which returned and ran well at Big
East) and should be able to make up the gap on the Tigers; both of those
two teams are in excellent positions for at large berths should they falter
at regionals. Penn State looked strong at Big Tens and should get an at
large if they finished 3rd or 4th. Villanova, which was a mere 7 points
behind Georgetown at Big Easts without a projected top-5 runner, needs
to finish 3rd or better to claim an auto berth or get pushed in by a strong
4th-place team (possibly a strong 5th-place such as West Virginia, but
that's a bigger reach).
Princeton's Emily Kroshus and Cack Ferrel, Georgetown's Treniere Clement
and Nicole Lee, West Virginia's Megan Metcalfe and Tara Struyck, Penn
State's Molly Landreth, Villanova's Marina Muncan and Ioana Parusheva,
LaSalle's Sheila Klick, American's Keira Carlstrom.
14. Princeton (Mid Atlantic)
Princeton, who finished 5th at the '02 Mid Atlantic regional, dominated
the 9/13 Battlefield Invite and a relatively weak 9/26 Iona MOC. Emily
Kroshus and Cack Ferrel finished 1-2 at Iona to lead Carrie Strickland,
Claire Filloux, and Marian Bihrle to a 57-sec 1-5 spread over 6k. Princeton
won the 27th annual HYP meet by sweeping the top 5 places; Kroshus (17:08
on Franklin Park's oft-run course), Ferrel (17:12), Carrie Strickland,
Marian Bihrle, and Mia Swenson finished 1-2-3-4-5 with a 37-sec 1-5 spread.
Ferrel (6th) and Kroshus (11th while battling a cold) had superb efforts
in the Pre-NCAA Purple race to lead the Tigers to a 6th-place finish in
the team standings; Ferrel, Kroshus, Strickland, Laura Petrillo, and Bihrle
combined for a 1:23 1-5 spread. Although Kroshus and Ferrell finished
1-2 at Heps, the Tigers lost a narrow decision to Columbia; Kroshus and
Ferrell led Strickland, Petrillo, and Mullen 54-sec 1-5 gap over 5K.
Returnees: Emily Kroshus (124th), Cack Ferrel, Carrie Strickland, Laura
Petrillo, Meredith Lambert (10:13.80, 10:54.06y), Jordan Wagenseller (2:13.55)
Newcomers: Mia Swenson (4:58y, 9:59), Claire Filloux
16. Georgetown (Mid Atlantic)
The Hoyas won trophies each of the last two years, claiming 3rd in 2001
and 4th last year. Treniere Clement (58th), Nicole Lee (68th), Jodee Adams-Moore
(88th), and Jill Laurendeau (104th, 14th '01) all return from last year's
NCAA squad, while Amanda Pape and Colleen Kelly return from the '01 bronze
medallists. The Hoyas were surprised by a better-than-expected Arkansas
team at the 9/13 Georgetown Invite as Arkansas tied the hosts in a wet
and wild competition; Georgetown missed Amanda Pape (sinus infection)
from their lineup, but was otherwise fielding their "A" squad.
The Hoyas returned with a mostly "B" squad the following week
to win the George Washington Inv. Georgetown dominated the 10/4 Paul Short
Invite with at easy win over West Virginia, Tennessee and a host of unranked
squads; Clement led Lee, Malloy, Pape, and Kelley to a 40-sec 1-5 split
over 6K. Clement finished 5th to lead the Hoyas to 7th in the Pre-NCAA
Purple race behind BYU, UNC, Notre Dame, Michigan, Northern Ariz, and
Princeton; Clement, Lee, Pape, Clock, and Wetzel combined for a 1:45 1-5
split, but were missing Adams-Moore and Malloy from the lineup. Clement
finished 5th in the loaded Big East field to lead the Hoyas to 3rd, only
4 points behind runner-up Providence; Clement led Lee, Pape, Adams-Moore,
and Kelly to a 71-sec 1-5 split with Malloy (back pains, according to
The Hoya) still missing from the lineup.
Returnees: Treniere Clement (58th; 2:07.90, 4:15.00), Nicole Lee (68th,
84th '01; '01 US World XC Team; 16:49.11, 34:26.03), Jodee Adams-Moore
(88th, 112th '01), Jill Laurendeau (104th, 14th '01; 4:22.64 '01), Amanda
Pape (46th '01, 98th '00; 16:39.39 '01), Colleen Kelly (145th '01, 143rd
'00; 4:26.64, 16:42.22), Maura McCusker (4:29.64), Diana Clock (16:50i),
Kelley Otstott, Sabine Knothe
Newcomers: Elizabeth Maloy (2:12.82, 4:24.26, 4:52.15y, 9:45.45), Jayne
Penn, Sarah Isbitz (2:56.42 1k)
17. Penn State (Mid Atlantic)
The Nittany Lions finished 25th at the NCAA meet. Team leaders Tracey
Brauksieck (96th) and Molly Landreth (134th) both were steeple finalists
at the NCAA champs. Landreth led her teammates to a sweep of the top 8
places at the 9/13 Spiked Shoe Invite; Landreth ran away to a 27-second
win, with Chelsea Lenge, Katy Hillard, Maureen Thomas, Brauksieck, Jenny
Stevens, Tara Johnson, and Kayla Matrunick all finishing within 13 second
of each other. Landreth finished 6th overall to lead the Nittany Lions
to 6th in the team standings at Griak with a 73-sec 1-5 gap. At the 10/3
Notre Dame Invite, Landreth's 4th place individual effort again led Penn
State to 3rd behind Notre Dame and Wake Forest; Landreth, Thomas, Hillard,
Stevens, and Lenge combined for a 42-second 1-5 gap -- although 29-sec
of that total was between Landreth and Thomas. The Nittany Lions claimed
3rd at their home meet behind Providence and Columbia, with Landreth,
Lenge, Thomas, Stevens, and Johnson notching a 69-sec 1-5 split; Brauksieck
appeared to struggle and finished out of Penn St's top 7. Penn State claimed
3rd at the competitive Big Ten meet behind Michigan and Michigan State
with Landreth, Stevens, Thomas, Johnson, and Wale splitting 58-secs over
6K.
Returnees: Tracey Brauksieck (96th; 10:16.91s/c), Molly Landreth (134th;
10:07.78), Michelle Wale (137th, 134th '01), Jenny Stevens (161st; 4:31),
Katy Hillard (187th; 4:35), Tara Johnson (192nd), Maureen Thomas (229th;
35:49), Chelsea Lenge (16:58)
Newcomers: no significant newcomers
21. Villanova (Mid Atlantic)
'Nova finished 8th in Terre Haute. Marina Muncan, Ioana Parusheva, and
Rebecca Mitchell should lead the Wildcats; Kalin Toedesbusch transferred
to Colorado, but the Wildcats gain Hungary's Zita Mezei (4:16.97, 9:24.24).
The Wildcats "B" squad took the Haverford Invite, then finished
well back at the 9/27 Iona MOC and 10/4 Paul Short. Villanova's "A"
squad finally debuted in the Pre-NCAA Gold race as the Wildcats finished
11th; Parusheva (17th), Muncan (20th), Juliette Kenny, Colleen Taylor,
and Mitchell combined for a 1:50 1-5 split; newcomer Mezei apparently
DNF's after running with Taylor at 4K. Muncan and Parusheva led 'Nova
to 4th at Big Easts behind Notre Dame, Providence , and Georgetown; that
duo led Kenny, Talor, and Smith to a 50-sec 1-5 split with Mezei not appearing
Returnees: Marina Muncan (Serbia; 35th; 2:06.29, 4:11.33, 9:33.26), Ioana
Parusheva (BUL; 44th, 209th '01; 4:30.89, 10:37.72s/c), Rebecca Mitchell
(83rd, 110th '01, 140th '00; 2:06.24, 4:21.00), Liz Gesel (116th, 19th
'01 FL; 4:58.42y), Carre Joyce (217th, 180th '01, 202nd '00; 4:30.20,
10:52.53s/c), Kirsty Smith (227th; 9:39.06i, 10:55.01s/c); Transferred:
Kalin Toedesbusch (x-fer to Colorado; 67th, 95th '01;),
Newcomer: Zita Mezei (HUN; 2:06.76, 4:16.97, 9:24.24), Denise Mazzeo,
39. West Virginia (Mid Atlantic)
Megan Metcalfe (9th) leads West Virginia, which finished 4th at regionals
last year. The Mountaineers lost to Pitt at the 9/6 Duquesne Duals then
won the 9/27 Pre-regional meet at Lock Haven. Metcalfe and Tara Struyk
finished 1-3 at the 10/4 Paul Short Inv to lead West Virgina to a distant
second behind Georgetown; the Mountaineers combined for a 70-second 1-5
split over 6K. Metcalfe claimed 4th in the Pre-NCAA Gold race to lead
West Virginia to 9th in the team standings; Metcalfe, Struyk, Jennifer
Davis, Jennifer Kemp, and Devon Plesuk combined for a 2:02 1-5 gap off
a top-10 contender. Metcalfe finished 7th at Big Easts to lead the Mountaineers
to 7th; Metcalfe led Struyk, Plesuk, Kemp, and Jenn Davis to a 2:15 1-5
split.
Returnees: Megan Metcalfe, Tara Struyk, Devon Plesuk, Jennifer Kemp,
Jennifer Davis, Susan Davis, Rachel Carden
SOUTHEAST
UNC and NC State appear to be the most likely schools to claim the autos;
NC State beat UNC at Great American, but UNC looked better in separate
races at Pre-NCAAs and beat NC State at ACCs (in both the two latter races,
the Wolfpack was missing '02 NCAA 10K champ Kristin Price who is supposed
to be rejoining the lineup). Wake appears to be the best of the rest and
has the auto wins to advance in an at large berth, while Duke appears
to be fourth in the region ahead of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Kentucky,
Richmond, and William & Mary -- all of whom appear to be weak on at
large points.
Individually, UNC's Shalane Flanagan -- the defending NCAA Champion --
should walk away with the regional title and lead her teammates Carol
Henry and Erin Donohue to top finishes. Athletes from NC State -- led
by Julia Lucas and Kristin Price -- and Wake Forest -- led Annie Bersagel
and Anna Sherman will also claim top-10 finishes. Other top individuals
in the region include Duke's Natasha Roetter, Virginia Tech's Marlies
Overbeeke, Virginia's Jane Maxwell, South Carolina's Jenny Lake, William
& Mary's Ali Henderson, Kentucky's Caitlin Phillips and Brooke Patterson,
Campbell's Heather Lee, Appalachian State's Katie Sujkowski, Coastal Carolina's
Anne Marie Moutsinga, and Western Kentucky's Bonita Paul.
3. North Carolina (Southeast)
Shalane Flanagan won her first NCAA title on her third try, running away
from the field in Terre Haute. This season Flanagan hopes to not only
defend her title, but also lead the Tar Heels to a spot on the awards
podium during her final collegiate harrier campaign. Joining Flanagan
up front will be Carol Henry, the '02 NCAA steeple bronze medallist, two-time
NCAA 800 champ Alice Schmidt, and incoming Foot Locker finalists Megan
Kaltenbach and Meghan Owen. At their 9/13 season opener, Erin Donohue
and Henry finished 1-2 with Owen, Kaltenbach, and newcomer Kristin Stroupe
rounding out the scorers. With NCAA champs Flanagan and Schmidt sitting
out, UNC ran a 62-second 1-5 spread. The full lineup toed the line at
the 9/26 Great American, but despite a tremendous 1-3-4 finish by Flanagan,
Henry, and Donohue, the Tar Heels fell short of archrival NC State. Newcomers
Owens and Kaltenbach finished 59- and 76-seconds respectively behind Donohue.
Flanagan dominated the Pre-NCAA Gold race, passing 1/2-way in 9:44 to
basically even-split a 19:30 course record as she led the Tar Heels to
runner-up honors only 13 points behind defending national champion BYU;
Flanagan led Henry (4th) and Donohue (8th) to top individual finishes,
while Kaltenbach and Owen closed on the top 3 and gave UNC a 1:53 1-5
split. Flanagan and Henry finished 1-3 at ACCs to lead the Tarheels to
a narrow 40-44 victory over an understrength NC State squad; that duo
combined with Jessica Perry, Owen, and Kaltenbach for a 1:47 spread --
Donohue appeared to have an off day and finished 11 seconds behind Kaltenbach.
If Kaltenbach and Owen continue to improve and Donohue returns to form,
the Tar Heels have an outside shot to make a run for the team title.
Returnees: Shalane Flanagan (Defending NCAA XC Champ, 22nd '01, 4th '00;
'00 USA Jr Champ; 4:11.60, 15:20.54; Ind 3k Champ, 2nd out 5k, 2nd USA
5k), Carol Henry (38th '01; 4:19.32, 10:03s/c; 7th s/c, 3rd '01 s/c),
Erin Donohue (91st, 60th '01; 4:19.09), Alice Schmidt (140th; 2:01.16,
'02 & '03 out 800 Champ), Jessica Perry (213th), Cassie King (219th),
Jennie Sucher (252nd)
Newcomers: Megan Kaltenbach (20th FL; 4:49.28y, 9:44.21, 10:28.81), Meghan
Owen (8th FL, 2:53.19i 1k, 4:50.58y)
5. North Carolina State (Southeast)
Not quite able to match their runner-up performance from '01, the Wolfpack
finished 13th in Terre Haute behind 2002 NCAA 10k champ Kristin Price.
In addition to the talented Price, NC State fields a nice mixture of proven
veterans and talented newcomers. NC State easily downed Wisconsin and
host Tennessee in a tri-meet, with Price running away with the race and
Renee Gunning, Lucinda Hull, Josi Lauber, and Megan Coombs packing it
in together nicely to cement the win. The Wolfpack's "B" team
won the 9/20 Raleigh Inv. The Wolfpack's pack running overcame UNC's strong
front runners as NC State won the 9/26 Great American Festival. Julia
Lucas and Price led Renee Gunning, Lucinda Hull, and Josi Lauber to a
44-second spread. Despite the absence of Kristin Price from their lineup,
the Wolfpack still claimed runner-up honors (behind Stanford) in the Pre-NCAA
Gold race; Lucas finished 6th, Gunning 11th, Lauber 16th, Hull 28th, and
Roth 40th as NC State split 69-sec for their top 5 (Kara Price ran 7 secs
faster in the Open race than Roth here). With Kristin Price again missing
from the squad, the Wolfpack finished second by just 4 points to North
Carolina at the ACC champs; Lucas, Hull, Gunning, Amy Arnold, and Lauber
notched a 29-sec 1-5 spread. Assuming a healthy Kristin Price, the Wolfpack
could challenge for the NCAA crown if Stanford or BYU falter.
Returnees: Kristin Price (29th, 4th '01; 9:28.80, 16:08.25i, 32:50.01;
'02 10K champ), Megan Coombs (13th '01), Kristina Roth (65th; 10:26s/c),
Josi Lauber (70th, 173rd '01), Diana Henderson (167th, 141st '00), Janelle
Vadnais (182nd; 4:29.21), Abigail Nelkie (185th), Julia Lucas (205th;
41st WXC; 4:27), Amy Arnold ('01 Ohio Champ); Renee Gunning (4:29.92;
16:53.13), Kara Price, Erin Swain
Newcomers: Sara Powell (21st FL; MA XC champ; 5:05.38y, 10:54.8y), Jennifer
Boyd (VA champ; 4:56.64y, 10:03.64), Jessica Yester (5:00.62y), Lucinda
Hull (x-fer from Lehigh; 10:32s/c)
13. Wake Forest (Southeast)
The Demon Deacons were one of the break-through teams of the '02 season,
winning ACCs and the SE regional before finishing 9th on an off day at
NCAAs. All-American Anne Bersagel should lead a deep squad. Foot Locker
finalist Michelle Sikes won both the Mountaineer Open and the 9/13 Wake
Forest Alumni Invite leading mostly "B" squads to wins at both
meets. Surprisingly, the Deacons debuted their "A" squad at
Griak (sans Danielle Coon and Jill Miller) and looked flat as they finished
a distant 8th in Minnesota; Bersagel claimed 5th, but Wake could only
muster a 90-second 1-5 split. Although they ran without Bersagel, Anna
Sherman finished 3rd overall to lead Wake Forest to 2nd at the 10/3 Notre
Dame Inv behind the hosts but ahead of Penn State; Sherman led Sikes,
Bremler, Gibbs, and Franklin to a 52-second 1-5 spread. Bersegal returned
to the lineup and claimed 10th in the Pre-NCAA Gold race, leading the
Deacons to 4th in the team standings behind Stanford, NC St, and Colorado;
Bersegal led Sikes, Sherman, Bremler, and Franklin to a 63-sec 1-5 split.
Wake finished 3rd at ACCs behind UNC and NC State; Sherman, Sikes, Bersagal
(off day?), Bremler, and Franklin combined for a 27-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Anne Bersagel (25th, 57th '01; 4:26.26, 16:19.16, 33:23.52),
Anna Sherman (72nd; 4:19.77), Erin Franklin (120th), Danielle Coon (146th),
Jill Miller (218th; 16:11), Nikeya Green (220th; 2:04.56, 4:26.53), Lisa
Gibbs (35th '01; 34:34.79 '02),
Newcomers: Michelle Sikes (15th FL; 4:58.66y, 10:54.03y), Hanna Bremler
(x-fer from Hawaii; 4:29.1), Selina Sekulic (5:00.01iy)
25. Duke (Southeast)
Duke finished 17th in Terre Haute. The Blue Devils will lose their top
two runners from last season, with Caroline Beirbaum transferring and
Clara Horowitz redshirting. However, Natsha Roetter is competing this
year after taking a year away from the sport. Laura Stanley led Paige
Miller, Shannon Rowbuy to 1-2-3 finish and a win at the 9/5 Covered Bridge
Open. The following weekend, Roetter finished second in her collegiate
debut to lead Duke to wins over William & Mary and Virginia. Roetter,
Sally Meyerhoff, newcomer Elle Pishney, Liz Wort, and Phebe Ko combined
for a 29-second 1-5 spread. Meyerhoff finished 16th to lead her teammates
to 6th at Great American; Roetter dropped out with asthma problems, while
Rowbury, Stanley, and Miller didn't appear. Roetter finished 6th individually
at the 10/3 Notre Dame Invite to lead a different Duke squad than ran
at Great American to 4th behind Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and Penn State;
Roetter led Stanley, Miller, Rowbury, Lauren Matic, and Meaghan Leon to
a 69-sec 1-5 spread. Roetter appeared to struggle in the Pre-NCAA Purple
race (reportedly asthma problems), while the Blue Devils finished 12th;
Stanley, Miller, Pishny, Rowbury, & Ko combined for a 45-sec 1-5 split
off of Stanley's 43rd-place effort (according to the Duke Chronicle, Meyerhoff
didn't run due to a back injury suffered during the course preview). Duke
finished 4th at ACCs behind UNC, NC State, and Wake Forest; Roetter led
Meyerhoff, Stanley, Rowbury, and Hullinger to a 29-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Shannon Rowbury (119th; 2:09.90, 4:41.85iy, 9:32.51i), Sally
Meyerhoff (163rd, 12th '01 FL; 4:29.44, 16:42.51), Laura Stanley (195th,
5th '01 FL; 16:43.82), Phebe Ko (200th), Heidi Hullinger (222nd; 16:58.10);
Meghan Leon (4:26.27), Elizabeth Wort (10:49.09s/c), Lauren Matic (4:24.62),
Sheila Agrawal (7th '00, 28th '99; '00 USA World XC Team; 16:29.54), Paris
Edwards (9:53.37), Paige Miller (9:38.34, 17:03.89); Redshirting: Clara
Horowitz (85th, USA Jr XC Champ, 39th WJrXC; 4:28.32, 9:27.53i, 16:26.15i)
Newcomers: Lindsay Van Alstine (27th '01 FL; 5:00y, 10:02.16, 10:31.6y;
17:24.89), Rachel Umberger (2:09.67, 2:54.16 1k), Lindsey Owen (2:12.35),
Elle Pishny (10:06.13, 17:18.77)
33. Virginia (Southeast)
The Cavaliers finished 20th in 2002 and should be led by Jane Maxwell
(75th). An under-strength UVa squad finished 4th at the 9/13 Lou Onesty
meet behind Duke, William & Mary, and a strong Richmond squad. Angie
Saterstad and Jane Maxwell led the Cavaliers to 7th at Great American.
Maxwell led UVa in the Pre-NCAA Purple race to 13th, with Hampson, Saterstad,
Baadj, and McGarvey splitting 64-sec for the top 5. The Cavaliers finished
6th in the deep ACC meet; Maxwell led Saterstad,Hawrylo, Hampsen, and
Carr to a 1:22 1-5 split.
Returnees: Jane Maxwell (75th), Megan McGarvey (152nd, 96th '01), Kara
Scanlin (154th), Sharon O'Connor (149th), Delany Moje (4:58.21y), Emily
Hampson, Jolene Hampson
Newcomers: Angie Saterstad (9:49.91), Meghan Hughes (10:03, 10:45y), Janine
Ricci (5:03.5y, 10:20.24)
37. Virginia Tech (Southeast)
V-Tech finished 6th at Big Easts behind Notre Dame, Providence, Georgetown,
Villanova, and Boston College; Marlies Overbeeke led Morris, Milbourn,
Ekemo, and O'Brien to a 1:44 1-5 split.
--. Kentucky (Southeast)
Kentucky finished 8th at the '02 Southeast regional. Brooke Patterson
led the Wildcats at the non-scored 9/20 WKU Oldtimers Classic. Kentucky
ran away with the 10/4 Cardinal Invite, with '02 individual qualifier
Caitlin Phillips (126th) leading a 66-second 1-5 spread. Patterson and
Phillips finished 19th and 21st in the Pre-NCAA Gold race to lead the
Wildcats to 12th in the team standings; the duo combined with Leah Kerstetter,
and newcomers Emily King and Ganne Way for a 2:50 1-5 spread (Leep and
Grace didn't compete). Patterseon and Phillips finished 2-4 at SECs to
lead the Wildcats to the 4th in the team standings; Patterson, Phillips,
Kerstetter, Leep, and King combined for a 2:08 1-5 split.
Returnees: Caitlin Phillips (126th; 4:29.76, 9:36.51, 16:45.56), Brooke
Patterson (2:06,4:48y), Allison Grace (9:51), Leah Kerstetter (9:55),
Leep (2:10, 4:30), Beth Heimann (2:04, 4:27)
Newcomers: Ganne Way (2:09), Emily King (10:52y)
--. Richmond (Southeast)
Richmond has improved this fall. Lyndsey Webber, Amanda Russell, and Danielle
Binns led Spiders to 3rd at the 9/13 Lou Onesty Inv behind Duke and William
& Mary. Richmond then won the 9/27 Ukrop's Maymont Inv, with newcomers
Russell and Binns again leading their teammates to a solid (44-sec) 1-5
split. The Spiders won the 10/4 LaSalle Invite and the 10/11 Walt Disney
World Classic; at the latter meet, Webber, Russell, Binns, Nicole Kurtain,
and Caitlin Smith combined for a 40-sec 1-5 spread. The Spiders dominated
the A-10 meet with Webber, Kurtain, Smyth, Russell, and Binns splitting
24-secs.
Returnees: Lindsey Webber, Nicole Kurtain, Alison Belicose
Newcomers: Danielle Binns, Amanda Russell, Caitlin Smith
--. William & Mary (Southeast)
The Tribe tied Arizona State for 23rd at the '02 NCAA meet. All-American
Ali Henderson will lead William & Mary. Henderson won the 9/13 Lou
Onesty Inv to lead a understrength W&M team to runner up honors behind
an understrength Duke squad; the Tribe didn't race Emily Halm, Jackie
Kosakowski, and Lauren Heron. Henderson finished 7th at Great American
to help the Tribe (sans McMahon) claim 5th behind NC State, UNC, Northern
Arizona, and Florida St; Halm, Cathcart, Kosakowski, and Bishop combined
with Henderson for a 82-second 1-5 spread. With Henderson and Halm missing
from their finishers, the Tribe claimed 18th in the Pre-NCAA Purple race;
Shiring, McMahon, Cathcart, Bishop, and Kosakowski (W&M's only finishers)
combined for a 39-sec 1-5 split. William & Mary rebounded at the CAA
meet to win with 18 point total; Henderson, Halm, Cathcart, Kosakowski,
and McMahon split 70 secs.
Returnees: Ali Henderson (38th; 16:09.65, 33:55.23; 8th ind 5k, 12th
10k), Maura McMahon (80th; 17:01.25, 34:43.71), Kristyn Shiring (175th;
17:42.69), Jackie Kosakowski (178th; 10:57.18s/c. 17:16.54), Lauren Heron
(234th; 4:31.87), Emily Halm (9th '00 SE Reg), Katrina Menard, (36:58.65),
Lara Toscani (4:37.59), Erin Masterson (2:15.19)
Newcomers: Julia Cathcart ('01 FL), Heather Stevenson (2:17.3, 5:06.85y),
Meghan Bishop (4:58.10y, 10:57.3y), Jessica Wolfe (VA St Catholic champ),
Kate Willever (5:10.16y, 7:08.89 2ks/c)
--. Coastal Carolina (Southeast)
Coastal Carolina finished 13th last fall at the competitive SE Regional.
Although she missed four weeks of training due to a lower leg strain,
Anne Marie Moutsinga leads the squad with a 19th at Great American. Coastal
finished 9th at Great American as a team. Earlier, the squad had won the
Charleston Classic and finished 2nd at the Coastal Carolina Inv. Moutsinga
led the squad again at the 10/10 Auburn Inv, where the squad finished
5th behind Mississippi State, Indiana, Auburn, and Purdue. Coastal finished
20th in the Pre-NCAA Gold race, with Moutsinga finishing 14th to lead
Nemergut, Grandovec, Klozowski, and Witte to a 2:04 1-5 spread. Moutsinga,
Grandovec, and Wicker finished 1-2-3 to lead their teammates to the Big
South loop crown and a 72-sec 1-5 gap.
Returnees: Anne Marie Moutsinga (Romania; 3rd '99 Euro Jr XC; 9:32PB,
16:33PB), Kim Nemergut (4:37, 17:34 PB), Lindsey Kozlowski (17:30), Kara
Koppel (9:56, 17:20), Robyn Ritter (18:04), Jessica Goeden (10:56y)
Newcomers: Daneja Grandovec (SLO; 10:55s/c), Lital Azulay (Israel; 9:57PB,
17:37PB), Claudia Witte (GER; 16:51), Eileen Wicker
GREAT LAKES
Notre Dame, Michigan, and Michigan State appear to be the class of the
Great Lakes region, with the Fighting Irish and the Wolverines tabbed
as the favorites for the autos, and the Spartans picked for the first
at large selection nationally. Marquette is rated fourth and should get
an at large; behind the Golden Eagles, it gets interesting: Indiana, Wisconsin,
Ball State, and Toledo should all contend for the next few places in the
team standings and bring different arrays of at large wins to the table.
Notre Dame's Molly Huddle, Kerry Meagher, and Lauren King, Michigan's
Rebecca Walter and Jessie Allen-Young, and Michigan State's Michelle Carson
and Jamie Kryzminski appear to be the region's top individuals, with Miami's
Andrea Kremer, Ball State's Jill Scully, Akron's Adriana Zalucka, Toledo's
Everlyne Lagat , Indiana State's Jessica Crowder, Oakland's Kristie Kieffer,
Wisconsin's Maggie Guiney, and Indiana's Audrey Giesler all vying for
top individual finishes.
4. Notre Dame (Great Lakes)
The Irish came through big-time at the NCAA championships to claim 3rd
behind the leadership of Molly Huddle (6th as a frosh!) and 2-time Cross
Country All-American Lauren King (19th). Loryn King (76th), Stephanie
Madia (78th), and Katie Wales (225th) also return from the '02 NCAA meet,
while Megan Johnson is back after a redshirt year. Notre Dame opened by
running a mostly "B" squad at the Valparaiso Inv, which won
behind Jean Marinangeli's individual win. The Irish also won the 9/19
National Catholic Inv with a "B" squad, with Kerry Meagher leading
Notre Dame with an individual win. Huddle and Lauren King debuted at the
10/3 Notre Dame Invite to lead the Irish to a win over Wake Forest (who
were missing their #1; had All-American Bersagel ran, it would have been
a virtual dead-heat); neither Loryn King nor Madia appeared at the Notre
Dame Inv leaving the Irish with a 72-second 1-5 split consisting of Huddle,
Lauren King, Meagher, Johnson, and Jean Marinangeli. Despite "off"
days by Huddle and Lauren King (who were among the leaders at 3K), the
Irish still claimed 3rd behind BYU and UNC in the Pre-NCAA Purple race;
Huddle finished 10th, Meagher 12th, Lauren King 19th, Johnson 29th, and
Madia debuted at 57th as the quintet notched a 58-sec split. Huddle finished
3rd individually a t Big East to lead the Irish to the team title; Huddle,
Meagher, Lauren King, Johnson, and Madia combined for a 67-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Molly Huddle (6th, 4th '01 FL; 4:20.50, 15:36.95), Lauren
King (19th, 27th '01; 4:14.72), Loryn King (76th), Stephanie Madia (78th,
23rd '01 FL; 4:26.98), Katie Wales (225th); Megan Johnson (130th '01),
Rachel Endress, Jean Marinangeli (17:12), Elizabeth Webster
Newcomers: Amy Kohlmeier (CAN; 2nd Can Jr XC; 4:29.43, 9:52.01), Kerry
Meagher (4:28), Jean Marinangeli (17:12)
7. Michigan (Great Lakes)
The Wolverines finished 15th at the NCAA champs. In addition to returning
Rebecca Walter (51st), Lindsey Gallo (108th), Andrea Parker (159th), and
Chelsea Loomis (16:37/35:48), Michigan gained Dartmouth graduate transfer
Jessie Allen-Young (140th '01). Allen-Young led the Wolverines to an easy
win at the 9/13 Miami Invite and to 10th at Griak; at the latter meet,
Allen-Young finished 11th, but her scoring teammates were spread out over
78-secs. Walter and Allen-Young finished 1-2 at the Michigan Intercollegiates
4K race and combined with Gallo, Parker, and Feldkamp for a 27-sec 1-5
split. Walter (13th) and Allen-Young (18th) led an excellent 4th-place
team effort by the Wolverines in the Pre-NCAA Purple race behind BYU,
UNC, and Notre Dame; Walter, Allen-Young, Gallo, Sarah Pizzo, and Parker
combined for an excellent 37-sec 1-5 split. Walter upset Michigan State's
Michelle Carson to win the Big Ten individual crown and lead the Wolverine's
to the team victory; Walter led Allen-Young, Gallo, Pizzo, and Erdman
to a 61-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Rebecca Walter (51st; 25th WXC; 16:18.29), Lindsey Gallo (108th;
4:16.35; 4:44.52iy, 9:30.05i, 16:39.03), Andrea Parker (159th; 10:38.18s/c;
16:39.51i), Jennifer Frudden ('01 Iowa champ), Chelsea Homan (4:29.87),
Chelsea Loomis (16:37.27i, 35:48.60), Katie Erdman (2:07.2, 4:52)
Newcomers: Jessie Allen-Young (GR x-fer from Dartmouth; 140th '01); Jackie
Gaydos (MI D-2 XC Champ; 4:55.2y)
12. Michigan State (Great Lakes)
The Spartans finished 11th in '01 and 12th in '02. Michelle Carson and
Jamie Kryzminski lead all seven members back from last year's NCAA squad.
Katie Anderson led Sarah Pepera, Brittany Ballard, Natalie Stein, and
Cindy Durocher to a 1-5 sweep at the Saginaw Valley Open, with all five
Spartans finishing together; neither Carson nor Kryzminski appeared. All-American's
Carson and Kryzminski finished 1-2 at the Spartan Invite to lead Peppera,
Stein, and Anderson to all finish among the top 7 with a 55-second 1-5
gap over 6k. The Spartan claimed runner-up honors at Griak behind Arizona
State, with Carson finishing 4th and Kryzminski 9th; the 1-5 gap for Michigan
State was 67-sec. Carson led a partial "A" squad to an easy
victory at the 10/10 Michigan Intercollegiates, with Carson combining
with Pepera, Stein, Durocher, and Michelle Rafferty for a 70-sec 1-5 split
over 6K; Krysminski and Anderson didn't appear for the Spartans. The Spartans
finished 2nd to cross-state rival Michigan at Big Tens, with Carson claiming
individual runner-up honors to lead Krzyminski, Pepera, Durocher, and
Rafferty to a 69-sec 1-5 split over 6K.
Returnees: Michelle Carson (27th, 34th '01; 16:24.59i), Jamie Kryzminski
(47th, 106th '01; 9:31.35i, 16:17.50i, 32:52.87; 5th 10k), Sarah Pepera
(95th, 10:27.37s/c), Cindy Durocher (124th, 208th '01, 62nd '99), Natalie
Stein (173rd, 147th '01), Gail Stec (230th), Brittany Ballard (240th);
Katie Anderson (116th '01), Megan Radermacher Michelle Rafferty
Newcomers:
19. Marquette (Great Lakes)
The Golden Eagles graduated their top three from last year's 18th-place
squad, but return Brianna Dahm from redshirt. Newcomer Heidi Lindemen
won the Bradley Invite to lead Marquette to second behind Missouri; Wisconsin
transfer Michael Courtney, Jamie Haro, Shannon Oster, and Susie Edmond
rounded out the team's scorers, who notched a 42-second 1-5 gap in Dahm's
absence. Jodi Jakubek led the Golden Eagles to 11th at Griak; Jakubeck's
24th helped the squad to a 58-sec 1-5 spread. Marquette narrowly edged
Nevada, 50-52, at the 10/4 Willamette Inv, with Jakubek leading Lindeman,
Dahm, Haro, and Courtney to a 47-sec 1-5 spread. Jakubek claimed 13th
in the Pre-NCAA Gold race to lead the Golden Eagles to 8th; Jakubek, Lindeman,
Dahm, Schiltz, and Emond combined for a 90-sec 1-5 spread. Marquette won
the Conference USA with Jakubek, Lindeman, Dahm, Haro, and Schlitz splitting
61-sec.
Returnees: Brianna Dahm (51st '01; 107th '00; 4:23.93, 9:22.07, 10:04.14s/c,
16:50.84), Jodi Jakubek (98th; 16:59.18), Jamie Haro (181st), Alli Sauer
(198th; 35:53), Susie Edmond (244th), Tara Hinke ('01 Wisc Div 1 champ),
Audrey Schlitz
Newcomers: Heidi Lindemen (10:30), Oster (10:20 3k), Michaela Courtney
(x-fer from Wisconsin; 4:52y)
29. Ball State (Great Lakes)
The Cardinals claimed 27th at last fall's NCAA meet. Ball State finished
3rd at both the 9/13 Maimi Invite and the 9/19 Indiana Intercollegiates
before winning the 9/26 Central Collegiates over a weak field. Jill Scully
and Crystal Meeks finished 1-2 at the latter event. The Cardinals finished
11th at the 10/3 Notre Dame Inv and 23rd at Pre-NCAA Gold. Ball State
upset an understrength Toledo squad to win the MAC champs; Scully, Meeks,
Huddleston, Lehe, and Hartford combined for a 56-sec 1-5 gap.
Returnees: Jill Scully (136th), Crystal Meeks (155th), Sarah Huddleston
(203rd), Aubrey Gaffer (239th), Nicole Hartford (243rd), Linda Stebbins
(10:04, 17:30)
Newcomers: Amanda Ponsot (2:14, 5:05), Rose Lehe (5:10)
32. Toledo (Great Lakes)
Still in a quest for a first-ever team appearance at the NCAA championships,
Toledo fell just short again in 2002. With steepler Briana Shook having
completed her cross country eligibility, the two-time MAC champions will
be led by Washington State transfer Everlyne Lagat (30th in '01). Toledo
opened with a "B" squad tying Bowling Green in a dual on 9/5;
only Chris Tye from the Rockets' top six raced in the opener. Tye sat
out the 9/20 Toledo Invite, but the meet saw the seasonal debut of Lagat,
Candace Cromley, Erica Moriarty, Kelly McCarty, and Ebba Stenback. Lagat's
30th-place effort a Griak led her full squad to a 13th-place finish and
a 75-second 1-5 split. Toledo struggled in at 17th in the Pre-NCAA Purple
race, with Lagat DNFing (reportedly a stomach virus) and Moriarty barely
finishing (dehydration); Tye, McCarty, Stenback, Cromley, and Tittle combined
for a 73-sec 1-5 split. With Lagat finishing well back in 77th, Toledo
finished second to Ball State at the MAC champs; McCarty, Tye, Moriarty,
Cromley, and Stenback combined for a 51-sec 1-5 spilt.
Returnees: Erica Moriarty (4:32.69, 9:50.50, 17:16.69), Chris Tye (NZL,
10:06.80, 17:00.32, 35:52.70), Ebba Stenbeck (SWE, 4:42.78, 10:00.70,
10:52.12s/c, 18:06.10), Jackie Baumgarter (10:18.14, 18:09.44)
Newcomers: Everlyne Lagat (x-fer from WashSt; 30th '01; 4:28.30, 9:25.90,
16:15.17), Kelly McCarty (x-fer from Houston; 4:35.65, 10:06.16), Katalin
Garami (HUN; 4:35.34, 9:58.89, 17:14.11); Candice Cromley (11:09), Lindsay
Helge (11:18), Alison Tittle (11:14), Megan Tittle (11:26)
33. Indiana (Great Lakes)
The Hoosiers stepped it up in 2002 to claim 14th at the NCAA meet. Mindy
Peterson and Audrey Giesler should lead Indiana. IU easily dominated its
own 8/29 Indiania Opener, with Giesler, Lindsay Hattendorf, Peterson,
and newcomer Kristin Whitezell placing 2-3-4-5. The Hoosiers also dominated
the 9/19 Indiana Intercollegiates, with Giesler winning and leading a
51-second 1-5 spread. However, Indiana could only muster a 15th-place
effort at Griak; Geisler's 16th-place finish led a 69-second 1-5 split.
Giesler led the Hoosiers again at the 10/10 Auburn Inv, as Indiana suffered
a narrow loss to Mississippi State; Giesler, Peterson, Whitzell, Siefkr,
and Shields combined for a 93-sec 1-5 spread; Hattendorf doesn't appear
in the results. Giesler finished 28th in the Pre-NCAA Purple race to lead
the Hoosiers to 22nd and a 1:55 1-5 split. Indiana stepped things up at
Big Tens to claim 4th behind Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State;
Giesler, combined with Siefker, Petersen, Overton, and Whitezell for a
70-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Mindy Peterson (59th; 4:26.43), Audrey Giesler (77th, 10:24.19s/c),
Jessica Gall (113th; 16:49.53), Lindsay Hattendorf (145th; 16:53.88),
Becky Obrecht (153rd), Alison Miller (235th), Kelly Siefker (247th; 10:51.24s/c)
Newcomers: Kristin Whitezell (5:00.85y)
36. Wisconsin (Great Lakes)
The Badgers look to send off Coach Peter Tegen (retiring end of '02-03
season) with a bang and improve upon their 19th-place finish in 2002.
Maggie Guiney, a graduate transfer from Boston College, is reportedly
fit and should boost Wisconsin's chances. Michelle Lilienthal and Hilary
Edmondson finished 3-4 to lead the Badgers as they lost to NC State, but
beat host Tennessee on 9/12; Guiney, Heidi Lane, and Linsey Blaisdell
wrapped up Wisconsin's scorers. Edmondson and Lilienthal switched their
order at the 9/27 Stanford meet to lead the Badgers to 3rd behind UCLA
and a portion of Stanford's "A" team; Blaisdell, Guiney, and
Lane helped Wisconsin to a 43-second 1-5 split over 6K. The Badgers, running
w/out Lilienthal in the lineup, edged Nebraska by a single point the following
weekend at the 10/4 Loyola Lakefront Inv, with Edmondson leading Guiney,
Lane, Blaisdell, and Kolpin combining for a 42-second 1-5 split. The following
weekend, Guiney finished 2nd to Wartburg's Missy Buttry by 58-secs and
led Edmondson, Kolpin, Blaisdell, and Ahavahla Haynes to a 40-sec 1-5
split over 4K at the Wartburg Inv; the understrength Badgers were easy
winners over the D-III field. Guiney and Edmondson finished 27th and 31st
respectively to lead Wisconsin to 7th in the Pre-NCAA Gold race; Guiney,
Edmondson, Lilienthal, Blaisdell, and Kolpin combined for a 51-sec 1-5
split. Wisconsin finished 5th at Big Tens, with Guiney, Edmondson, Lilienthal,
Blaisdell, and Kolpin splitting 71-sec.
Meets: 10/18 Pre-NCAAs, 11/02 Big Ten (MiSt), 11/15 GL Reg (Terre Haute)
Returnees: Hilary Edmondson (93rd, 161st '00; 4:22.33), Linsey Blaisdell
(121st), Heidi Lane (143rd), Michelle Lilienthal (147th, 113th '00), Jackie
Mulrooney (179th)
Newcomer: Maggie Guiney (GR x-fer from Boston College; 9th '01, 13th '00),
Ahavahla Haynes
MIDWEST
Missouri appears to be the class of the field, with Nebraska, Minnesota,
SW Missouri, and Illinois dueling for the second auto berth. Of those
latter four, Nebraska has the best case for an at large berth should the
Huskers fail to claim an auto.
Missouri's Amanda Bales appears to be the region's top runner and could
be joined near the front by teammate Valeria Lauver, Kansas State's Stephanie
Murer, Oklahoma's Jessica Eldridge, SMS's Casey Owens and Erin Sutton,
Nebraska's Anne Shadle and Anne Gaffigan, Illinois State's Diani Ainsley,
and Illinois' Cassie Hunt.
20. Missouri (Midwest)
Mizzou won the MW regional before finishing 16th in Terre Haute. Sophomores
Amanda Bales and Valerie Lauver return to lead the Tigers. Despite holding
out Lauver and Katherine Bonugli, the Tigers still finished 1-2-3 to dominate
their 9/6 home meet; Bales led Jill Petersen and Serena Ramsey to the
sweep. The following week, Mizzou sat out Bales, but Lauver returned to
lead the Tigers to a win at the Bradley Open over Marquette. At Bradley,
Lauver, Petersen, Ashley Patten, Kristin Hansen, and Bonugli combined
for a 42-second 1-5 split -- a figure that should be reduced when Bales
returns to the lineup. Bales led the Tigers to a distant 9th at Griak,
with Lauver appearing to struggle; Mizzou could only muster a 65-sec 1-5.
Bales (12th) led Missouri again in the Pre-NCAA Gold race as the Tigers
claimed 6th; Bales combined with Ramsey, Lauver , Petersen, and Bonugli
for a 1:37 1-5 gap (1-4 gap is 36-sec). Missouri finished 3rd at Big-12s
behind Colorado and Baylor; Bales, Lauver, Petersen, Ramsey, and Bonugli
combined for a 1:23 1-5 split.
Returnees: Amanda Bales (53rd), Valerie Lauver (54th, 8th '01 FL; USA
Jr WXC), Serena Ramsey (172nd), Katherine Bonugli (191st, 219th '00),
Jill Petersen, Jackie Pirtle
Newcomers: Kate Bundy, Merry Uchiyama, Kate Greer, Allison Werner
--. Minnesota (Midwest)
The Gophers finished a non-qualifying 5th at last year's NCAA regional
meet, but return almost the entire squad. Unfortunately for Coach Gary
Wilson that exception is '02 NCAA individual qualifier Darja Vasiljeva
(87th) who will be sidelined this season with an October surgery for her
left hamstring. In her absence, Minnesota opened with easy wins over the
fields at the 9/6 Intrasquad and 9/13 Oz Memorial, then a 19th-place finish
at Griak.. Redshirt frosh Emily Brown is leading the team with wins at
their first two meets. Minnesota took 5 of the top 6 places at the non-scored
10/4 Iowa State memorial, then finished 20th in the Pre-NCAA Purple race
with Rundhaug, McConnell, Hess, Nagel, and Williams combining for 38-sec
1-5 split. The Gophers claimed 6th at Big Tens, with Nagell, Rundhaug,
Hess, McConnell, and Brown combining for a 30-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Lisa Dyer (111th '01), Laura Bjork (133rd '01), Krista Anderson
(186th '01, 227th '00), Anita Menden (213th '01, 165th '00), Carly Emil
(4:55, 10:37), Jenny Hess (2x Mn A XC champ), Emily Brown ('01 Wisc XC
runner-up), Amy Lindner (SD champ); Injured: Darja Vasiljeva (87th, 86th
'01, 46th '00),
Newcomers:
--. Nebraska (Midwest)
The Cornhuskers finished 13th at the 2002 MW regionals. Nebraska won the
9/20 Woody Greeno Invite and finished 12th at Griak; Anne Shadle's 19th-place
effort led Kayte Tranel, Kathryn Handrup, Ann Gaffigan, and Kim Pancoast
to a 64-sec 1-5 gap in Minnesota. The following weekend, Nebraska lost
by a single point to Wisconsin at the 10/4 Loyola Lakefront Inv; Shadle
led the 'Huskers to a 42-sec 1-5 split of 5K. Gaffigan finished 30th to
lead Nebraska to 8th in the Pre-NCAA Purple race; Gaffigan, Handrup, Tranel,
Shadle (who appeared to have an off day), and Pancoast combined for a
77-sec 1-5 split. Nebraska claimed 6th at Big-12s, with Shadle combining
with Gaffigan, Tranel, Pancoast, and Handrup for a 40-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Ann Gaffigan, Anne Shadle, Kayte Tranel, Kathryn Handrup
Newcomers: Finker (x-fer from Col St), Farah Jadran (Ill runner-up), Kim
Pancost
--. Southwest Missouri State (Midwest)
Third at the '02 MW regional, the SMS Bears are trying for their first
NCAA championship berth. The Bears won the 9/6 Wichita State Classic with
a 33-sec 1-5 gap led by Laura Schafuetzel and Erin Sutton, the won the
Missouri Southern Stampede, with Sutton leading SMS to a 45-second 1-5
spread. At the 10/4 Cowboy Jamboree, the Bears fell to 3rd behind unranked
Texas Tech and Georgia; Sutton led Casey Owens, Ashley Sanders, Jate Chettle,
and Casey Dewitt to a 67-sec 1-5 split, while one of the team's leaders
-- Schafluetzel -- finished out of the Bears' scorers. The Bears claimed
18th in the Pre-NCAA Gold race, with Owens, Sutton, Sanders, and Schafluetzel
combining for 2:00 1-5 gap. SMS dominated the Missouri Valley Conference,
with Owens, Sutton, Sanders, Chettle, and Schafluetzel splitting 43-secs.
Returnees: Erin Sutton (4:59.96i, 10:32.85s/c, 16:59.30) Casey Owens
(4:34.04, 9:51.82i, 16:52.37), Laura Schafluetzel (10:08.16i, 17:40.13),
Ashley Sanders (10:03.16, 17:36.36), Casey Dewitt (18:23.05), Becky Moffit,
4:51.89), Lisa Lewis; Redshirt: Rebekah Daro (10:00.03i, 10:39.58s/c,
17:30.21)
Newcomers: Kate Chettle (AUS, x-fer from Arkansas; 4:32, 9:50.94), Jennifer
Beasley, Clarris Codrington, Chloe Key, Tonisha Moore, Jessica Tuttle,
Nicole Walcutt (x-fer from Iowa St), Sara Whiting
--. Northwestern (Midwest)
The Wildcats finished 30th at the 2002 NCAA meet. Northwestern finished
23rd at Griak and 4th at the 10/4 Lakefront Inv and was led by Diana Hossfield.
Emily Blakeslee and Hossfield led the Wildcats to 24th in the Pre-NCAA
Gold race. The Wildcats claimed 9th at the Big Ten meet.
Returnees: Diana Hossfield (162nd), Emily Blakeslee (204th), Kyna Forkins
(232nd), Nora Colligan
Newcomers: Katie Romaine, Casey Shea, Jama Bernard
SOUTH CENTRAL
Baylor appears to be the top team in the South Central region, while Arkansas,
Texas, and Texas Christian should battle for the other auto berth. Of
those three latter squads, Texas probably has the best set of at-large
wins but would still be pressed for an at-large berth.
Texas Christian's Mary Kinyanjui and Ami Batler, Southern Methodist's
Karin Van Rooyen and Rachel Collins, Rice's Kate Gorry, Baylor's Angela
Marvin and Brittany Brockman, and Texas' Kristin Walter and Talis Apud-Martinez
are among the region's top individuals.
18. Baylor (South Central)
The Bears finished 4th at regionals last fall and will be led by Erin
Dixon and US Junior steeple champ Angela Marvin. Baylor won the 9/13 North
Texas Invite, then finished 5th at Griak behind Arizona State, Michigan
State, Columbia, and Providence. Lisa Cornelius, a 17:13 5000 performer
last spring, led Brittany Brockman, Marvin, Dixon, and Monique Ortega
to a 43-sec 1-5 spread in Minnesota. Brockman stepped up to lead the Bears
to 10th in the Pre-NCAA Purple race; Brockman, Marvin, Cornelius, Dixon,
and Ortega split 54-sec from 1-5. Baylor claimed runner-up honors at Big
12 behind Colorado; Marvin, Brockman, Cornelius, Ortega, and Dixon combined
for a 49-sec 1-5 spread.
Returnees: Erin Dixon, Angela Marvin (USA Jr s/c champ; 6:37.48 2k),
Jessica Chance, Lisa Cornelius (17:13)
Newcomers: Brittany Brockman (4:54, 10:36), Monique Ortega (4:59, 10:35),
Brittany McGuire (5:04)
30. Texas Christian (South Central)
TCU finished second to Marquette at the Conference USA meet; Mary Kinyanjui
and Ami Batler finished 1-2 to lead Katrina Zielinski, Calandra Stewart,
and Heather Isabell to a 1:55 1-5 spread.
--. Arkansas (South Central)
Arkansas finished 7th at last fall's NCAA meet, but graduated their top
three. Penny Splichal missed much of the '02 season, but should be one
of the team's leaders. Following an easy team win at the Fayetteville
Inv, Maureen Scott led the Lady'Backs to a 28-28 tie against Georgetown
at the 9/13 Georgetown Inv. Scott won the race and was followed home by
Laura Jakosky, Kristina Smith, Alison Zeinner, and Penny Splichal with
a 28-second 1-5 gap. Arkansas maintained a tight 29-second split at the
9/27 Stanford Invite, but Scott ran 5th for the squad behind Zeiner, Smith,
Jakosky, and Splichal as the Lady 'Backs claimed 4th behind UCLA, Stanford,
and Wisconsin. The Lady 'Backs had a rough day at their own 10/18 Chili
Pepper Festival where they were upset by both Nevada and Texas Tech; Scott
(who only finished 18th), Splichal, Jakosky (who apparently hit a barrier),
Whiting, and Zeinner combined for a 55-sec 1-5 spread while Sigmont missed
the meet while recovering from surgery to remove a bone fragment from
her hip. Arkansas finished 3rd at SECs with Jakosky, Whiting, Splichal,
Scott, and Smith splitting 45-sec for 6K.
Returnees: Maureen Scott (105th, 10:50.13s/c, 16:38.04), Laura Jakosky
(112th; 10:40s/c, 17:04), Shiloh Whiting (131st, '02 USA Jr s/c champ;
10:32.69s/c), Erica Sigmont (171st; 2:07.67, 4:19.46), Penny Splichal
(75th '01; 16:41.61, 34:14.15),
Newcomers: Caroline Peyton, Kristina Smith (AK XC Champ; 4:32.72, 4:56.86y),
Sarah Selby (IL XC Champ), Tiffany Redlarczyk (4:58y, 10:40), Sara Saffa
(5:03y)
--. Texas (South Central)
The 'Horns improved to claim 22nd in Terre Haute last fall. The 'Horns
won the 9/13 Texas St Inv, then a "B" squad finished 9th at
the 9/20 A&M meet. Texas then dominated the 10/4 Texas St. Inv, winning
with 16 points. Talis Apud-Martinez, who missed the 1st part of the season
due to injuries, debuted at Pre-NCAAs and helped the 'Horns to 15th in
the Pre-NCAA Purple, with Kristin Walter, Apud-Martinez, Jones, Ross,
and Scarlett combining for a 1:31 1-5 split. Texas finished 5th at Big-12s,
with Walter, Apud-Martinez, Ross, Jones, and Scarlett splitting 1:36.
Returnees: Talis Apud-Martinez (36th, 153rd '01), Sarah Ross (190th),
Jodi Jones (233rd), Katie Scarlett (237th), Evelyn Dwyer, Erin Budd, Dee
Dee Cortez
Newcomers: Brooke Stewart, Grace Ann Nathanson
--. Texas A&M (South Central)
The Aggies claimed 3rd last fall at regionals. A&M easily won their
9/20 invite, then finished 10th at Great American. Foot Locker finalist
Jamie Geissler's 63rd-place finish led the Aggies to 17th in the Pre-NCAA
Gold race, as she combined with Vanessa Kelly, Tamara Budija, Landra Stewardson,
and Jamie Baldwin for a 63-sec 1-5 split. A&M finished 8th at Big-12s.
Returnees: Meredith Crane, Sarah Steadman (191st '00), Katherine King,
Landra Stewardson, Candice Kolb, Stacy (Cusimano) Garrity, Tamara Budija
(9:50), Vanessa Kelly
Newcomers: Jamie Geissler (11th FL), Katie Hummel (10:25), Lauren Mewhinney
--. Rice (South Central)
The Owls won the WAC title last fall. Rice easily dominated the 9/13 Rice
Invitational, with Kate Gorry leading 5 Owls among the top 7 finishers.
The Owls then finished 3rd behind Texas A&M and Texas Christian at
the 9/20 A&M Invite; Gory claimed runner-up honors. Rice won the 10/3
Islander Open, then finished 11th at the 10/18 Penn State National Inv
and 3rd at the WAC champs.
Returnees: Kate Gorry (17:03), Tanya Wright (4:28), Shannon Murto (4:34),
Whitney McAlpine (36:45), Brandi Armstrong (4:39), Megan Sandler (4:32),
Lauren Murphy (5:12y, 10:45)
MOUNTAIN
The BYU Cougars ('99, '01, '02) and Colorado ('00) account for the last
four NCAA team titles and once again should claim the two auto berths
from the Mountain Region. Northern Arizona and Colorado State should claim
the 3rd and 4th place positions and comfortably advance with at-large
berths, while Nevada and Texas Tech should vie for 5th and 6th.
In addition to the top runners from BYU (Mannova, Anderson, Turner, etc),
Colorado (Florence, Metivier, Toedesbusch), and Northern Arizona (Nilsson
sisters and Edwards), Colorado State's Katie Yemm, Nevada's Abigail McAllister,
Texas Tech's Irene Kimaiyo, Utah's Elise Greenwood, New Mexico's Sarah
Gonzales, Montana State's Ariana Lee, Montana's Kerry Bogner, and Weber
State's Heidi Bouwhuis.
2. Brigham Young (Mountain)
Patrick Shane's defending champion BYU Cougars have now won 4 of the last
six NCAA team titles ('97, '99, '01, '02), including the last two crowns.
NCAA steeplechase champs Michaela Mannova ('02) and Kassi Andersen ('03)
return to lead the Cougars. Mannova, who finished 5th in both the '01
and '02 NCAA harrier races, redshirted the outdoor season but notched
a swift 9:42.01 steeple while winning silver at this summer's Euro under-23
meet. In her absence, '02 USA Junior 1500 champ Andersen (7th) ran away
with the steeple title in an NCAA meet record 9:44.95 before claiming
silver at the USA championships. Also returning for BYU are Breanne Sandberg
(41st), Lisa Antonelli (10:14.37s/c), Shalice Pugmire (10:32.88s/c), as
well as a possible key for the Cougars' hopes of a three-peat: former
two-time cross country All-American Laura Turner (26th '99, 31st '98)
who served on an LDS mission in 2000 and 2001. Foot Locker finalists Ruth
Graham (12th FL) and Amber Harper (13th FL) could help bolster the Cougars'
lineup.
BYU opened by running a "B" squad (BYU's website stated that
they held out the top 5 or 6 runners) at the BYU Alumni Inv, where they
1-2-3-4-5'd the field with Antonelli, Suzanna Larsen, and Breanne Sandberg
finishing together. Breane Sandberg won the 9/13 BYU Autumn Classic to
lead a mostly "B" squad to an easy team win over cross state
rival Weber State. Sandberg, Larsen, Rena Williams, Antonelli, and Jami
Caldwell scored for the Cougars. BYU ran completely different "B"
squad in Hawaii and fell to UCLA; of note for the Cougars were seasonal
debuts for Michaela Mannova's (easy win) and Foot Locker finalist Amber
Harper's (a bit back in 10th).
"In over 20 years of coaching, I've never had a team miss a race,"
declared a still stunned Coach Shane when interviewed following his BYU
squad missing the 9/26 Great American Race of Champions. "I can't
blame anyone but myself. The other 15 teams all made it to the starting
line on time." The understrength and likely demoralized Cougars --
still sans Anderson and Turner-- dominated the "B" race a little
over an hour later, but their times would have likely placed them behind
NC State and UNC.
The Cougars' full squad debuted in the Pre-NCAA Purple race, where they
won with a 13-point margin over North Carolina. Mannova claimed runner-up
honors (5th fastest of the day) behind UNC's Flanagan, while Turner demonstrated
that she only gets better with age, claiming 7th (17th fastest). Larsen
and Sanberg finished together in 22nd and 23rd (37th and 38th fastest),
while Lisa Antonelli wrapped up the scorers with her 32nd place finish
(62nd fastest) that helped the squad to a 67-sec 1-5 split. The surprise
of the day for BYU was Anderson's poor showing, a 55th-place effort. Shane,
in comments to journalists following the race, blamed himself for working
her too hard over the last couple weeks and leaving her tired.
With Anderson missing again from the lineup, BYU scored a miserly 19
points to win the Mountain West Conference; Mannova, Turner, and Samberg
finished 1-2-3 and combined with Antonelli and Williams for a 69-sec 1-5
split. For the Cougars to challenge the Cardinal for the crown, Shane
needs to have Anderson back to last year's top-10 form and can't have
bad days by any of his other scorers. Even then, he may have to hope that
Stanford's juggernaut falters.
Returnees: Michaela Mannova (5th, 5th '01, 148th '00; 9:42.01s/c; '02
steeplechase champ), Kassi Andersen (7th; 2:08.10, 4:18.04 '01, 9:44.95s/c,
'03 steeplechase champ, 2nd USA s/c, 1st '02 USA Jr 1500), Breanne Sandberg
(41st; 16:22.59), Shalice Pugmire (10:32.88s/c), Aneta Lemiesz (2:05.30),
Lisa Antonelli (10:14.37s/c), Laura Turner (26th '99, 31st '98; 16:38.67)
Newcomer: Ruth Graham (12th FL; 10:02.7 3k, 10:46.87y); Amber Harper (13th
FL; 4:37.95, 9:54.44 3k); Julie Cameron (2:12.83, 5:10.45i), Whitney McDonald
(CA)
6. Colorado (Mountain)
NCAA indoor 5k champ Sara Gorton will miss the season due to a Sept 19
surgery to correct a torn tendon in her left foot. All-American Natalie
Florence (22nd) returns to lead the Buffs and is joined by Jackie Zeigle
(138th), and Christine Bolf (186th) from the '02 NCAA harrier meet, as
well as Laura Zeigle who missed most of last fall's campaign due to injuries,
but showed good fitness while competing unattached last spring. 2001 NCAA
runner up Renee Metivier transferred from Georgia Tech after missing all
of last year due to a medical redshirt while Villanova transfer Kalin
Toedesbusch will also help the Buffs. At the CU Time Trial, it's traditional
for the returnees to keep cranking up the pace until only 7 runners remain,
then permit the youngest among them to "win". This year, newcomer
Shannon Sparks earned that honor followed by Bolf, Toedebusch, Florence,
Gorton, and Metivier; Jackie Zeigle finished about 50 seconds behind,
while neither Laura Zeigle nor Erika Odlaug appeared. The Buffs then finally
came out of their training stint to race the 10/4 Rocky Mountain Shootout;
Florence and Metivier finished 2-4 among some of the top D-II runners
from Western State and Adams State, while Bolf finished 14 secs behind
Metivier and Toedebusch an additional 17 secs back; Sparks was the 5th
Buff, 42-seconds behind Toedebusch (and 82 total seconds behind Florence).
The Buffs showed in the Pre-NCAA Gold race, where they finished 3rd behind
Stanford and NC State, that with Gorton they would have contended for
the NCAA team title; Florence finished 7th, Metivier 9th, Bolf 25th, and
Toedebusch 30th while newcomer Sparks helped CU to a 1:32 1-5 split. Florence
and Metivier finished 1-2 to lead the Buffs to the Big-12 title, with
Toedebusch, Zeigle, and Bolf combining with that front-running duo for
a 70-sec 1-5 spread.
Meets: 10/31 Big-12 (Austin, Tx), 11/15 Mountain Reg (Ogden, UT)
Returnees: Natalie Florence (22nd, 100th '01; 16:21.41, 33:40.46), Jackie
Zeigle (138th, 7th FL; 5:02.45y, 9:41.23), Christine Bolf (186th); (returning
from injuries): Erika Odlaug (2nd '01 FL; 17th '01 World XC; 10:35.13y
'02), Laura Zeigle (3rd '00 FL, '01 USA Jr Champ; 4:28.85, 9:51.28), Redshirting:
Sara Gorton (Sept 19 surgery for posterior tibialis in right legl 10th,
8th '00; 4:15.48, 15:24.97; ind 5k champ, 3rd out 5k),
Newcomers: Shanna Sparks; Renee Metivier (x-fer from GaTech; 2nd '01),
Kalin Toedesbusch (x-fer from Villanova; 67th, 95th '01;)
10. Northern Arizona (Mountain)
The Lumberjacks claimed 10th last fall and return 6 runners from their
NCAA squad. Two-time NCAA steeple runner-up Ida Nilsson and her sister
Johanna, the NCAA indoor mile champ, lead Northern Arizona, which also
gained English graduate transfer Laura McCreesh. At the 9/6 George Kyte,
the Lumberjacks swept the top six individual places, w/ Erika Edwards
and Johanna Nilsson running 1-2 and Ida Nilsson apparently sitting out
the effort. The following weekend, Johanna Nilsson lead the 'Jacks with
a win at the Aztec Invite (Sister Ida apparently sat out this meet too);
Erika Edwards, Natalie Rogers, Julia Fisher, and Ariel Latimer rounded
out the scorers (1:28 1-5 spread). The Sisters Nilsson finished and uninspired
9th and 10th (Johanna and Ida respectively) at the 9/26 Great American
to lead the Lumberjacks to 3rd behind NC State and UNC; NAU displayed
a 59-sec 1-5 spread. Ida rebounded in the Pre-NCAA Purple race, finishing
3rd to lead the 'Jacks to 5th behind BYU, UNC, Notre Dame, and Michigan;
Ida, Johanna (15th), and Edwards (17th) combined with Rogers and McCreesh
1:49 1-5 split. The Nilssons and Edwards finished 1-2-3 to lead Northern
Arizona to an easy win at the Big Sky meet; Ida, Johanna, Edwards, Fischer,
and McCreesh combined for a 1:41 1-5 split.
Returnees: Ida Nilsson (8th, 12th '01; 9:10.48i; 9:49.94s/c, 15:51.71),
Johanna Nilsson (12th; 4:10.72, 4:32.49iy, NCAA ind Mile champ), Erika
Edwards (82nd, 143rd '01), Jinny Hanifan (139th, 63rd '01; 10:25.23),
Natalie Rogers (179th, 49th '01 World Jr XC), Julie Fisher, Jodie Denike
Newcomers: Natsha Wicks (2nd NV), Ariel Latimer (32nd FL W; 5:04, 11:08),
Laura McCreesh (GR x-fer from GBR; 17th GBR Champ; 16:40),
22. Colorado State (Mountain)
The Rams claimed 20th at the '01 NCAA meet, but failed to advance to NCAAs
last year. CSU won the Lobo Inv, then finished 7th at Griak. Nicole Feest
led the Rams at Griak as they notched a 30-sec 1-5 split in Minnesota.
Katie Yemm (80th '01) improved to lead Colorado St to 4th at the 10/18
Penn State National Invite behind Providence, Columbia, and Penn St; Yemm
combined with Crystal Clark, Feest, Michelle Carmen, and Sarah McKay for
an excellent 18-sec 1-5 spread over 6K. The Rams claimed runner-up honors
at the Mountain West Conference behind BYU; Yemm, Carmen, Clark, Blair,
and Feest split 42-sec.
Returnees: Katherine Yemm (80th '01, 156th '00; 4:44.14iy), Jennifer
Kintzley (129th '01, 127th '00), Colleen Blair (150th), Michelle Carman
(x-fer from Boise St; 16:52), Brittany Saunders (2:14, 5:07, 11:08 at
altitude); Crystal Clark (17:19), Nicole Feest
Newcomers: April Thomas, Rebekah Yetzer (2:16, 5:01, 10:59), Valerie McGregor,
Emily McGregor, Nicole Feest (x-fer from Oregon)
27. Nevada (Moutain)
Nevada narrowly lost to Marquette at the 10/4 Willamette Inv. where Abigail
McAllister led the squad to a 38-sec 1-5 split. McAllister finished 9th
at the 10/18 Chili Pepper Festival to lead Nevada to the team win; McAllister
combined with Jenna Huber, Emma Garrard, Ginny Johnson, and April Fitzgerald
for a 57-sec 1-5 gap over 6K. McAllister won the WAC individual title
to lead her teammates to the conference crown; McAllister combined with
Huber, Garrard, Johnson, and Frank for a 1:36 1-5 split over 5K.
Returnees: Abigail McAllister ('98 OR XC champ; '03 NCAA freestyle ski
All-American), Jenna Huber (9:55, 17:14), Emma Garrard (10:38.36s/c),
Ginny Johnson (11:00.24 s/c), April Fitzgerald, Sara Frank (11:16s/c,
18:00), Nicole McRae (2:07.69), Kali Baker (2:10.60), Jessica Ford
31. Texas Tech (Mountain)
Texas Tech won the 9/6 UT Arlington Inv, finished 2nd at the 9/13 UNM
Lobo Invite to Colorado State, then finished 16th at Griak. The following
week, Texas Tech won the Cowboy Jamboree over Georgia and Southwest Missouri;
newcomer Irene Kimaiyo led Brionne Yosten, Tracie Akerhielm, Katie Leonard,
and Abby Shubert to a 46-sec 1-5 split over 6K. Akerhielm led the squad
to runner-up honors behind Nevada at the 10/18 Chili Pepper Festival;
Akerhielm combined with Kimaiyo, Yosten, Leonard, and Stef Calhoun for
a 73-sec 1-5 split over 6K. Texas Tech finished 4th at Big-12s behind
Colorado, Baylor, and Missouri; Kimaiyo, Akerhielm, Yosten, Calhoun, and
Schurbert split 74-secs.
Returnees: Brionne Yosten (4:22, 17:10), Tracie Akerhielm (4:33, 9:52i,
16:48), Stef Calhoun (4:41), Abby Schubert (4:55, 17:24i), Katie Leonard
(4:50, 11:03s/c, 18:15)
Newcomers: Irene Kimaiyo (16:30), Ruth Camacho (2:13; 2x TX Champ), Sara
Srnensky (2:18)
--. Weber State (Mountain)
Weber finished 5th in the competitive Mountain Region last fall. The Wildcats
finished 2nd to a BYU mostly "B" squad at the 9/13 BYU Autumn
Classic, with Heidi Bouwhuis, Janae Johnson, Lindsey Olson, Caroline Pebley,
and Cheryl Jolly scoring for Weber. Heidi Bouwhuis led the Wildcats to
a 17th-place finish at Griak. The Wildcats downed Montana, Montana State
and Idaho State at the 10/4 Montana Inv; Bouwhuis combined with Johnson,
Pebley, Olson, and Jolley for a 64-sec 1-5 spread over 6K. Weber finished
14th in the Pre-NCAA Gold race, while Johnson, Bouwhuis, Blaisdell, Olson,
Pebley combined for a 40-sec 1-5 gap. Weber State earned runner-up honors
at Big Skys behind Northern Arizona; Bouwhuis, Pebley, Johnson, Olson,
and Jolly combined for a 49-sec 1-5 split.
Returnees: Rebecca Bennion (33rd '01; 4:21 '01, 9:54 s/c '01, 16:07 '01;
2nd '01 s/c), Heida Bouwhuis (4:41, 10:42 s/c), Janae Johnson (201st '01;
17:30), Caroline Pebley (4:38, 10:41 s/c), Ashley Winter (16:51)
Newcomer: Jenny Packer (5:14y, 11:30y), Lindsey Olson (UT 3A champ), Jamie
Stubbs (UT 5A champ)
SOUTH
Tennessee is likely to take the top auto berth in the South, with Florida
State and Georgia slated to battle for the second auto while Vanderbilt
has also shown promise this fall. None of these squads has a particularly
strong at-large case.
Florida State's Vicki Gill is the class of the individual field in the
South. Auburn's Angela Homan and Catherine Wanyioke, Mississippi State's
Tiffany McWilliams, Georgia's Lauren Burke, Tennessee's Brooke Novak and
Megan Cauble, Vanderbilt's Erika Schneble, Belmont's Christy Csorna, and
Georgia State's Jenn Feenstra.
24. Tennessee (South)
The Lady Vols claimed 28th at last year's NCAA championships. Brooke Novak
(103rd) returns to lead the Lady 'Vols. Novak's runner-up finish to only
NC State's Kristin Price at the NC State-Wisconsin-Tennessee Tri shows
that she fit this fall. Georgia Tech transfer Carly Matthews, Megan Cauble
(164th), Liz McCalley (250th), and Jessica Southers (238th) rounded out
Tennessee's scorers in their season opener; Several Lady Vol's sat out
the meet including Felicia Guliford and Stanford transfer Lindsay Hyatt.
Although Guliford and Hyatt joined Tennessee's lineup at the 9/19 Crimson
Classic, Novak and Matthews apparently didn't run; in their absence, Cauble
led the Lady 'Vols to an easy victory. Cauble led Tennessee again at the
10/4 Paul Short as the Lady Vols finished 3rd behind Georgetown and West
Virgina; with Guiliford and Hyatt again missing from the lineup, Cauble
combined with Novak, Matthews, McCalley, and Southers for a 51-sec 1-5
gap. Novak stepped up to lead Tennessee to 5th behind Providence, Columbia,
Penn St, and Colorado State at the 10/18 Penn State Inv; Novak combined
with Cauble, Hyatt, McCalley, and Matthews (Guilford didn't appear again)
for another 51-sec 1-5 gap over 6K. Tennessee won the SEC champs, with
Nowak, Cauble, Sullivan, Hyatt, and McCalley splitting 65-sec over 6K.
Returnees: Brooke Novak (103rd), Megan Cauble (164th); Jessica Southers
(238th), Felicia Guilford (246th; 6th FL; 8th USA Jr); Liz McCalley (250th),
Erin Anderson (253rd), Mindy Sullivan (17th '01 FL), Christy Baird, Katie
Flaute
Newcomers: Lindsay Hyatt (GR x-fer from Stanford), Carly Matthews (x-fer
from GaTech, 5:13.75y, 10:09.62), Leslie Treherne
28. Florida State (South)
Florida State finished 28th at NCAAs. The Seminoles finished 2nd to Wake
Forest at the 8/29 Mountaineer Open then won the 9/12 Florida Intercollegiates.
All-American Vicki Gill learned 12 minutes prior to the start of Great
American that she had won her appeal for an additional year of eligibility
and celebrated by claiming individual runner-up honors behind defending
NCAA champ Shalane Flanagan to lead the Seminoles to a 4th-place performance.
Gill finished 3rd individually in the Pre-NCAA Gold race to lead Florida
State to 10th in the team standings; Gill combined with Hughes (18th),
Hofstede, Clark, and Clinton for a 2:27 1-5 spread off a top-5 contender.
The Seminoles claimed 5th at ACCs behind UNC, NC State, Wake Forest and
Duke; Gill earned runner-up honors behind NCAA favorite Flanagan and led
her teammates to a 2:26 1-5 spread.
Returnees: Natalie Hughes (197th; 4:16.33), Ann Clinton (231st; 17:11),
Laura Melendez (251st), Jenny Gomez (254th), Suzanne Shepard, Cathleen
Willy (10:46 3200 '02), Rachel Marsh
Newcomer: Helen Hofstede (NED; 4:23.5), Heather Clark (5:04.66y), Carla
Agnew (CAN; 4:43.1)
33. Georgia (South)
Finished second at the 10/4 Cowboy Jamboree behind Texas Tech and ahead
of Southwest Missouri; the Lady Dogs, who were led by Kelly Cordell in
7th, benefited from the tight 2-3-4 packing of Kristin Heffelfinger, Jill
Steffens, and Lauren Burks, while Jasmine Oeinck rounded out the scorers.
Georgia earlier won the 9/13 Mercer Inv and finished 2nd at their own
Bulldog Stampede to Vanderbuilt. Heffelfinger led the Lady Dogs in the
Pre-NCAA Purple race to 14th and a 49-sec 1-5 split. Georgia claimed runner-up
honors at the SECs, with Burks, Heffelfinger, Cordell, Steffens, and Nowakowski
splitting 1:23 for 6K.
Returnees: Kelly Cordell, Lauren Burks, Clair Nowakowski
Newcomers: Kristin Heffelfinger, Jill Steffens
--. Vanderbilt (South)
Vanderbilt won the 9/13 Commodore Inv and the 9/20 Bull Dog Stampede,
then finished 5th at the 10/3 Notre Dame Invite behind Notre Dame, Wake
Forest, Penn State, and a split Duke squad. At Notre Dame, newcomer Ashleigh
Wetzel led an all-underclass group to a 44-second 1-5 split. Vanderbilt
finished 5th at the 10/18 Chili Pepper Festivalbehind Nevada, Texas Tech,
Arkansas, and Virginia Tech, with Erica Schneble, Wetzel, Debbie Huss,
Caitlin Shannon, and Jackie Wachsman combining for a 57-sec 1-5 spread.
Vanderbilt claimed 5th at the SECs behind Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas,
and Kentucky.
Returnees: Caitlin Shannon,
Newcomers: Ashleigh Wetzel, Shannon Capps, Debbie Huss, Amy Huss
--. Auburn (South)
Auburn claimed 4th at the '02 South regional. Catherine Waynoike (74th)
and USA Junior National team member Angela Homan will lead the Tigers
this fall. Auburn opened with a win at the 9/5 UTC Opener, with Homan
and Waynoike finished 1-2 over the 2-mile course. Auburn then claimed
6th at the 9/27 Iona MOC behind Princeton, Yale, Pittsburgh, Dartmouth,
and Brown and 3rd at their own 10/10 invite close behind Mississippi State
and Indiana. Homan won the SEC champs, but her team could only finish
6th in the team standings.
Returnees: Catherine Waynoike (74th; 2nd '01 JUCO; x-fer from Butler
JC), Angela Homan (51st WJrXC, 18th '01 FL), Spring Dawson, Caitlin Reese,
Sarah Reese, Dawn Morgan, McKenzie Fox, Danielle Keplinger
|
is published
by 