For the twelfth year (with a year off in 2005), I am producing my NCAA Women's Cross Country Analysis detailing the top teams and individuals that comprise the Division 1 women's harrier scene.  I listed the teams in order of the most recent NCAA Coaches Poll -- an order that I may not always agree with!

Most of the information used to compile this analysis came from individual institutions' athletic web-sites, media reports, and Walt Murphy's X-Country X-Press.

Check out the hundreds of photos.

2009 Season

The University of Washington's Dawg Pack dominates the leaders at the 2009 Pre-National Meet at Indiana State. 
Photo by miscott.

The Washington Huskies are favored to defend their women's team title in Terre Haute at the 2009 NCAA D-1 Women's Cross Country Championships.

Villanova, Oregon, Florida, and Florida State are among the teams hoping to knock off the Dawgs in November.

Colorado's Jenny Barringer running away from the best in the country at the 2009 Pre-National Meet at Indiana State. 
Photo by miscott.

Individually, Colorado's Jenny Barringer appears to be the class of the field.  The 2008 Olympian redshirted last fall before shattering records indoors and outdoors, winning the steeplechase at both the NCAA and USA championships before claiming fifth in World Championships steeple final.  

The best of the rest include Villanova's Sheila Reid (undefeated this fall), Florida State's Susan Kuijken (NCAA 1500 champion), Illinois' Angela Bizzarri (NCAA 5000 champion), Washington's Kendra Schaaf, and Oregon's Nicole Blood and Jordan Hasey.

Florida State's Susan Kuijken (left image) and Illinois' Angela Bizzarri (right image) are among the top runners in the collegiate ranks.
Photo by miscott.

2008 NCAA Champs Recap:
Kipyego Makes History; Huskies Triumph!!

NCAA champion Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) winning the 2008 NCAA D-1 Women's Cross Country Championships 
Photo by miscott.

The Washington Huskies arrived in Terre Haute as overwhelming favorites to win their first ever NCAA team title at the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Championships.

Undefeated in 2008, the Dawgs had recorded an amazing 20:21 team time average over Indiana State’s oft-run Laverne Gibson Cross Country Course (the fastest this author can find on record), perfect-scored their entire conference at the Pac-10 championships (including #2 Oregon), and dominated the West Regional despite resting their top runner.

Oregon , Florida State , Princeton , West Virginia , and Villanova were the best of the rest of the contenders for a team trophy.

Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego lined up on Monday, November 24 as an even more prohibitive favorite than the Huskies.  Kipyego was undefeated in three years of NCAA harrier competition, winning two NCAA cross country crowns and destroying course records across the country.

With Colorado ’s Jenny Barringer – the runner-up to Kipyego the past two years – redshirting following her Olympic run, the mantle of pretender to the throne fell to Florida State ’s Susan Kuijken, who finished third here in Terre Haute last fall behind Kipyego and Barringer.

The leaders (from right to left) at 600-meters; Kipyego (at the right in red) and Missouri St's Cheruiyot (in white), West Virginia's Asselin, Texas Tech's Badura (in red), Florida St's Kuijken (partially obscured by Badura in maroon), Michigan St's Bush (in green), Washington's Schaaf (in purple), Virginia Tech's Fanning (partially obscured by the spectator with the red cap), Tennessee's Bowman (in orange), Villanova's Koon (obscured by spectator in red hoody), West Virginia's Bland, Washington's Babcock, and Auburn's Knight. 
Photo by miscott.

In 2006, Kipyego bolted to a big lead at the sound of the starter's pistol and simply opened up her gap over the rest of the race.  In 2007, Kipyego ran with the leaders for the first mile before edging away after the mile mark to win by 

This year, Kipyego pushed the early, but had Missouri State's Pasca Cheruiyot matching her stride for stride and numerous other contenders in hot pursuit over the 800-meter straight that rises for 400-meters before dropping for the second 400-meters.

Kipyego(637) and Cheruiyot (344) match strides at 1200-meters. Kuijken is visible over Cheruiyot's left shoulder, while Asselin is directly behind .
Photo by miscott.

As the field made the sweeping right-hand turn into the inner-loop and began to ascend the long, gradual hill to the mile mark, Kipyego and Cheruiyot continued to press the pace, with Kuijken right on their heels.  West Virginia's Asselin, who had battled a viral infection at the Mid-Atlantic Regional, was already losing a step to the trio.

A few strides behind Kipyego Cheruiyot, Kuijken, and Asselin run Washington's Schaaf (722), Virginia Tech's Fanning (712), Auburn's Knight (43), Michigan State's Bush (308), Washington's Babcock (714; behind Bush's left shoulder), UNC's Felnagle (behind Babcock's left shoulder), Villanova's Koons (678), Tennessee's Bowman (611), and Providence's Doetzel (516) .
Photo by miscott.

Behind the front runners, the team battle was already shaping up.  Washington's frosh duo, Kendra Schaaf (Canadian junior champion and this fall's Pac-10 Champ) and Christine Babcock (who set a new national prep mile record last spring and qualified for the Olympic Trials 1500-meter semifinals), were out at the front of the pack.

Their top rivals, Oregon, were also right there, with Alex Kosinski (West Region champion; 13th at '07 NCAA XC) and Nicole Blood (eighth here a year ago) a step behind Babcock.   The rest of the Duck's scorers -- Harvard transfer Lindsey Scherf, Eastern Washington transfer Mattie Bridgmon, and former Foot Locker national champ Zoe Nelson -- were all clustered near the front.  The Dawgs were a bit more spread out.

"The race plan honestly, about 1500 meters in I thought we were a little back.  It actually didn't go according to plan," said Washington coach Greg Metcalf. 

Kipyego (637) leads Kuijken at 1800-meters, with Cheruiyot dropping a step behind.  Asselin (blue singlet) runs alongside Fanning (out of frame on Asselin's right).
Photo by miscott.

Kipyego, Cheruiyot, and Kuijken continued to scorch the course, cruising past the mile mark in a blazing 4:59 as they started downhill towards 2-kilometers. 

The fast early pace began to take its toll on Cheruiyot, who started to lose contact with Kipyego and Kuijken.  Kipyego and Kuijken passed 

The chasepack at 1800-meters:  Auburn's Knight (43), leads Washington's Schaaf (722), UNC's Felnagle (375; in light blue), and Tennessee's Bowman (obscured by Knight), with Western Kentucky's Jesang (obscured by Schaaf), Oregon's Blood (447), Texas Tech's Badaru (625), Oregon's Kosinski (behind Badaru). Michigan State's Bush (308), Washington's Babcock (partially obscured by Schaaf and Jesang), and Iowa's Marchand also in the chase pack.
Photo by miscott.

The team race continued to develop behind, with Washington's Schaaf and Babcock matching up with Oregon's Kosinski and Blood in the chase pack about 10-seconds behind the leaders at 2-kilometers.

Oregon looked best with Scherf, Bridgmon, and Nelson all running top 50 overall at 2k for a intermediate team score of 109.  

Washington's Follett was ahead of Oregon's 3-4-5 at the 2km, but Lawrence and Campbell were running between 60th and 70th at this point, giving Washington an intermediate score of 129. 

Twenty-fifth through 55th at 1800-meters: Princeton's Costello (502), Illinois' Engel (211) Baylor's Bedell (52; green & gold singlet), Wisconsin's Jorgensen, Florida St's Van Miert.  Oregon's Scherf is visible in the green and yellow singlet on the left of the image; Scherf's teammates Nelson and Bridgmon are running along side her in the pack at this point.
Photo by miscott.

West Virginia was in third at the 2km with 166 points, just ahead of Florida State's 187, with Illinois (280) leading Villanova (287) and Arkansas (297).

Kipyego and Kuijken settle into a 1-on-1 duel as they pass 2200-meters on their way up the hill alongside the treeline.
Photo by miscott.

Kipyego and Kuijken pulled away from the field as they made the turn onto the course's backstretch and began climbing along the treeline that bordered the back of the course.

Fanning reeled in Cheruiyot along the back stretch.

Oregon's Blood (447) and Kosinski (453) and Washington's Schaaf (722) and Babcock (714; behind Schaaf)) continue to duel as the chasepack climbs the backstretch at 2200-meters.  Also visible are Michigan St's Bush (308), Iowa's Marchand (behind Bush), Auburn's Knight (43), Tennessee's Bowman (behind Knight on Knight's right in orange), Western Kentucky's Jesang (behind Knight on Knight's left in red), and UNC's Felnagle (375) .
Photo by miscott.

Washington's third runner, Follett (717), runs along in about 30th place behind UNC's Holesh at 2200-meters.  Texas A&M's Munoz (615) runs on Follett's left, with Wisconsin's Grinaker (766) just behind.
Photo by miscott.

Washington's Follett, Campbell, and Lawrence started working their way though the pack during the middle section of the race -- as did Oregon's Scherf!

Kipyego runs alone at 3700-meters after edging away from Kuijken along the long uphill from 3500-meters to 4000-meters..
Photo by miscott.

Kuijken continued to shadow Kipyego as the course crested near 3km.  The duo turned into the middle inner loop, passed 2-miles at about 10-minutes, and flew down the hill to 3.5km.

Kipyego started to get a small lead as they rounded the curve at the bottom of the inner loop and gradually edged away from Kuijken as they climbed the course's toughest hill from 3.5km to 4km.

Kuijken (left image) chases Kipyego up the long hill near 3700-meters.  Fanning (right image) had dropped Cheruiyot by 3700-meters and was running alone in third.
Photo by miscott.

Kipyego passed 4km in 12:43, three seconds ahead of Kuijken.  Fanning was another 17-seconds behind in 13:03.

UNC's Felnagle (375), Iowa's Marchand (248), and Oregon's Kosinski (453) lead the chasepack up the hill before 4km.  Illinois' Bizzarri (207), Michigan St's Bush (behind Bizzarri), Washington's Schaaf (behind Felnagle's right shoulder), Auburn's Knight (43), Oregon's Blood (behind Knight's left shoulder), Western Kentucky's Jesang (mostly obscured by Marchand), and Washington's Babcock (between Marchand and Koskinski) stride up the ascent.
Photo by miscott.

The chasepack followed another 13 seconds behind, with Washington's Babcock and Schaaf and Oregon's Kosinski and Blood continuing to fight for those all-important "low stick" scores.  Schaaf was struggling to hang on to the back of the chasepack as they crested the hill at 4km.

The team battle is heating up on the hill before 4km with Washington moving through the field  Washington's Follett (mostly obscured byMichigan St's Senakiewich [318]) picked up a half dozen spots, while Washington's Lawrence (718; left side of image) passed 30 runners to move into the mid 30s .  Also visible are West Virginia's Bland (735), Northern Arizona's Pohl (392), Baylor's Bedell (52), Wisconsin's Jorgensen (behind Bedell's left shoulder), Florida St's McShine (behind Senakiewich's right shoulder), Illinois' Engel (211), and Michigan's Edwards (283).
Photo by miscott.

While the Ducks may have led the Huskies at 2km, Washington was serious about winning their first ever NCAA title and the Dawgs' Follett, Lawrence, Campbell, and Miller began to move through the field during the middle 2000-meters.

Follett moved up a half-dozen places into the mid-20s and Campbell passed about 15 runners to move from the low 60s into the mid 40s.  Lawrence picked up about 30 places, improving from the mid-60s to the mid-30s.  Miller claimed about 20 runners to move from low 70s to low 50s, while Saylor moved from the 80s into the mid-60s.

The Ducks were having a mixed results in the middle of the race, with Scherf holding steady at about 40th while Bridgmon and Nelson each lost about 10 places (from the upper 40s to the upper 50s) from 2km to 4km.

So Washington moves into the lead at 4km with an intermediate score of 92, while Oregon drops to second with 129.

Behind the Dawgs and the Ducks, Florida State moves into third with 168, while West Virginia drops to fourth with 204.  Princeton, which had been in 17th with 400 points at 2km, shed almost 200 points to sit in fifth with 233.  Villanova lowered their score to 267 but fell to sixth, just ahead of Providence's 280.

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Kipyego runs alone through the final inner loop before 5km.
Photo by miscott.

Up front, Kipyego continued to lead, passing 5km in 16:03, but didn't significantly extend her margin over Kuijken.  Kuijken actually edged a bit closer during the last inner loop, but never quite re-established contact.  Fanning starts to close the gap ever so slightly on the leaders. 

Washington's Babcock leads the chasepack on the final inner loop before 5km, with UNC's Felnagle on her left shoulder.  Iowa's Marchand and Oregon's Kosinski are just behind, followed by Illinois' Bizzarri, Auburn's Knight, and Oregon's Blood.  The rabid coach nearly climbing over the fence behind the Minnesota flag (purple top, grey shorts) is Washington mentor Greg Metcalf trying to fire up his super-frosh Babcock.
Photo by miscott.

The chasepack began to break up over the final 2km.  Babcock pressed the pace during the final inner loop, with Felnangle, Marchand, Kosinski, Bizzarri, Knight, and Blood hanging on behind the Husky frosh.

Barringer (127) begins to pull away from Nukuri (204) and Kuijken (204) over the final inner loop before 5km.
Photo by miscott.

Washington's Schaaf, Michigan State's Bush, Western Kentucky's Jesang begin to string out behind the chasepack.

West Virginia's Bland (735) leads Princeton's Costello (502), Boston University's Walkonen (21), Northern Arizona's Pohl (392), Tennessee's Bowman (611), Providence's Doetzel (516), Villanova's Koons (678), and Florida State's Van Miert (164) over the final inner loop before 5km.
Photo by miscott.

Behind the leaders, the Washington's and Oregon's scorers continued to move through the field.  While Oregon's Bridgmon improves 10 places, Scherf loses 10 places and Nelson holds steady.  The Dawgs' Lawrence and Miller pick off another 10 and 15 runners respectively, while Follett and Campbell hold their own.

Kipyego sprinting for the finish in a course-record 19:31.
Photo by miscott.

Although Kuijken was closing a little over the final inner loop, Kipyego began to stretch her lead again as the leaders rounded the gradual downhill curve before the final homestretch.  

Sprinting onto the final field, Kipyego powered up the slight incline of the final 400meter stretch to break her own course record with a 19:28.

“This was definitely the hardest of the three [cross country championships]," said Kipyego. "Today, Susan made me run hard, and made me PR so to me that’s an opportunity that doesn’t come every day so that was good.”

Kipyego became the first woman to win three NCAA Division I Cross Country titles; only three men have ever accomplished this feat: Gerry Lindgren, Steve Prefontaine and Henry Rono!

Kuijken held off a fast closing Fanning for second, 19:35 to 19:38.

"I couldn’t answer that move,” said Kuijken. “I was planning on running with Sally so I knew I wasn’t going to be comfortable and that I was going to be hurting so it didn’t matter.”

UNC's Felnagle outsprints Iowa's Marchand for fourth.
Photo by miscott.

North Carolina's Felnagle sprinted best to claim fourth in 19:54, just ahead of Iowa's Marchand (19:55) and Illinois' Bizzarri (20:00).

Washington's Babcock claimed seventh...
Photo by miscott.

 
...while Oregon's Kosinski grabbed eighth to start off the team battle.
Photo by miscott.

The team battle began in earnest when Washington's Babcock claimed seventh in 20:02, three seconds ahead of Oregon's Kosinski in eighth.

Oregon's Blood (447 in left image) attempts to hold off a fast-closing Bush (Michigan State) and finishes 10th.  Washington's Schaaf (722 in right image) claims 12th.
Photo by miscott.

Michigan State's Bush (20:08) came from a ways back to kick past Oregon's Blood, leaving Blood tenth overall in 20:09.  Next in was Auburn's Knight in 20:13, followed by Washington's Schaaf at 20:18.

Since Knight was an individual, Washington and Oregon were tied 14-14.

However, that was it as Washington piled in the next three scorers: Lawrence (25th; 20:33), Follett (26th; 20:33), and Miller (34th; 20:37) to seal the deal with a 79-point total, the lowest since Colorado upset Duke in 2004 to win with 63 points.

"They did what they've done all year long," said Metcalf. "After the 3k, they moved and ran better after that. Christine Babcock and Kendra Schaaf were in the lead pack right where they needed to be. Mel and Katie closed well and lowered our team's score dramatically. Things didn't go 100% as planned, but I won't get greedy. It was good to win."

The win gave the Huskies to their first ever NCAA harrier championship; The Dawgs join a elite group of 11 institutions that have won NCAA women's cross country titles in the sport's 28-year NCAA history

Oregon's Bridgmon (448), the Ducks' third scorer, holds Washington's Saylor, the Dawgs' sixth runner.
Photo by miscott.

Oregon's Bridgmon (40th; 20:44) finished just ahead of Washington's sixth runner (Saylor, 41st 20:44), with Scherf finishing 48th in 20:47 and Nelson grabbing 61st in 20:55, leaving the Ducks with a 131-point total -- lower than Stanford's winning scores in 2005, 2006, or 2007!

Kuijken's individual runner-up performance was enough to have them repeat as the team bronze medalists with 163 points.  West Virginia claimed fourth with 198 points, while Princeton grabbed fifth with 220 points.

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The 2009 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will return to Terre Haute for an unprecedented seventh time in eight years.