Analysis of the 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll

by Mike Scott,
University of Rhode Island

Updated: 21 November

For the 7th consecutive year, I am analyzing the Women's Division I Coaches' Poll. Teams are listed according to their ranking in the current edition of the FinishLynx/NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL POLL, as conducted by the Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches' Association.

Notes: Places listed in parentheses refer to finish at the 2002 NCAA D-1 XC Championships at Indiana State University, unless otherwise noted. Performances are from the 2002-03 year, unless otherwise noted. Performances at the Foot Locker High School Cross Country Championships are denoted by "FL".

As always, I appreciate additions, corrections, and updates. Please send them to me at miscott@att.net

The NCAA Championships:

The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships hosted by the University of Northern Iowa in Waterloo will feature the thirty-one of the top programs in the nation contending for the team title. Here's how the field breaks down:

TOP THIRTY TEAMS:

The Favorites: BYU versus Stanford

Brigham Young and Stanford will once again contend for the team title. While BYU has the edge inNCAA titles, Stanford features a strong squad that will be hard to beat. BYU returns Michaela Mannova, Kassi Anderson, and Breanne Sandberg from the 2002 championship squad, while Laura Turner also adds All-American honors to the mix; '03 NCAA steeple champ Anderson has yet to show the form that netted her a 7th-place finish at last year's harrier championships while '02 NCAA steeple champ Mannova appears to be a strong top-5 contender. The Cougars will rely upon Lisa Antonelli, Rene Williams, or Suzanna Larsen to seal the deal as the team's final scorer. NCAA 10k champ Alicia Craig and two-time Pac-10 champ Sara Bei provide the experience to lead a very young, but talented Stanford squad to contend for the title. Newcomers Ari Lambie, Katy Trotter, and Amanda Trotter hope to provide the firepower that the Cardinal needs to down BYU, while Jeane Goff brings NCAA experience to the lineup should one of the top-5 falters.

1. Brigham Young
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. Anderson returned to the BYU lineup at the Mountain regional, where she helped the Cougars record an easy win; Mannova won the regional by about 15-seconds and led Turner, Anderson, Sandberg, and Antonelli to a 70-sec 1-5 split. For the Cougars to turn back the Cardinal challenge 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)

2. 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. With Lambie a "little dinged up" and sitting out and McWalters comfirmed out for the remainder of the season, Craig and Bei led the Cardinal to an easy win at the West regional and combined with the Trotters and Goff for a 52-sec 1-5 spread. With Lambie back in the lineup, the Cardinal will rely upon Craig, Bei, and Lambie to finish in the top 15 and the Trotters and Goff.

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),

The Dark Horses:

Should Stanford or BYU falter, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and NC State are poised to knock them off and could contend for the title if both favorites have off days. Defending NCAA champ Shalane Flanagan combines with Carol Henry and Erin Donohue to give UNC one of the best front-running trios in the country, while Jessica Perry and newcomers Meaghan Owen and Megan Kaltenbach provide a strong 4-5 for the Tar Heels. As they did last fall, Notre Dame appears to be peaking well during the championship season. All-Americans Molly Huddle and Lauren King are joined by Kerry Meagher, Stephanie Madia, and Megan Johnson. NC State features excellent depth and a virtually interchangeable squad, but will rely upon the return of '02 NCAA 10K champ Kristen Price to actually challenge for the team crown.

3. North Carolina
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 (and a 60-sec 2-4 split off Henry). 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. Flanagan, Henry, and Donohue swept the top-3 places at the SE regional, leading the Tarheels to a 52-64 win over archrival NC State; that trio combined with Perry and Owen for a 1:20 1-5 split (and a 61-sec 2-5 split). With Perry, Kaltenbach, and Owen providing some depth behind the outstanding trio of Flanagan, Henry, and Donohue, 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)

4. Notre Dame
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. Huddle's individual win led Notre Dame to victory over Michigan at the GL region, with Huddle combining with King, Meagher, Johnson, and Madia for a 64-sec 1-5 spread.

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)

5. North Carolina State
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. Gunning, Lucas, Hull, Roth, and Lauber combined for a 36-sec 1-5 split at the SE regional to finish 2nd behind archrival UNC. Assuming a healthy Kristin Price, the Wolfpack could challenge for the NCAA crown if Stanford and 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)

Trophy Contenders:

6. Michigan
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. Michigan then claimed the 2nd auto berth at the Great Lakes regional behind Notre Dame, with Walter, Allen-Young, Gallo, Pizzo, and Erdman splitting 53-sec.

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)

7. Colorado
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 Metiever 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. CU finished 2nd to claim the 2nd auto berth in the Mountain region; Metivier, Toedebusch, Bolf, Florence (in an apparent "off day"), and Kendal Ggras-Wheeler combined for a 1:30 1-5 spread while Laure Zeigle appeared to struggle and Sparks was absent from the lineup.

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 Metiever (x-fer from GaTech; 2nd '01), Kalin Toedesbusch (x-fer from Villanova; 67th, 95th '01;)

8. Providence
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. Smith and Cullen also claimed the top two individual spots at the NE regional to lead the Friars to the regional title over Columbia; Smith and Cullen combined with Crombie, Byrne, and Cappello.
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);

Top Ten Contenders:

9. Columbia
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 Princeton 33 to 38 at the Heps, with Hickin, Stublic, Stellato, Kilmer, and Zoltani combining for a 39-sec 1-5 split over 5K. Columbia was unable to overcome Providence at the NE regional, but claimed the 2nd auto berth; Hickin, Stublic, Zoltani, Kilmer, and Dicrescenzo combined for a 54-sec 1-5 split.

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)

10. Georgetown
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. The Hoyas upset favored Princeton to win the Mid Atlantic regional, with Clement winning and leading Lee, Pape, Adams-Moore, and Kelly to a 76-sec 1-5 split.

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)

11. UCLA
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. The Bruins claimed runner-up honors and an auto berth at the West regional behind Stanford; Flores, Caldwell, Costello, Timinsky, and McBain combined for a 41-sec 1-5 split.

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

12. Michigan State
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. Michigan State claimed 3rd at the GL regional behind Notre Dame and Michigan and was awarded an at-large berth; Carson's individual runner-up finish led Krysminski, Pepera, Durocher, and Stein to a 91-sec 1-5 spread.

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:

13. Wake Forest
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. Wake claimed a close third behind UNC and NC State at the SE regional, with Bersagel, Sikes, Sherman, Franklin, and Bremler notching a 40-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)

14. Princeton
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. Kroshus finished 2nd to lead the Tigers to the second auto berth behind Georgetown at the Mid Atlantic regional; Kroshus combined with Ferrell, Petrillo, Strickland, and Lambert for a 1:22 1-5 spread.

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

15. Villanova
'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. The Wildcats edged Penn State for 3rd at the Mid Atlantic regional behind Georgetown and Princeton and Penn State's at large wins were enough to push 'Nova into the NCAA meet; Parusheva, Muncan, Kenny, Mitchell and Taylor combined for a 1:23 1-5 split.

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,

The Rest of the Field:

16. Colorado State
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. CSU upset Northern Arizona for 3rd at the MW regional and claimed an at large berth; Clark, Blaire, Feest, Kintzley, and Carmen combined for a 22-sec 1-5 gap while Yemm appeared to struggle.

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)

17. Northern Arizona
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. Northern Arizona was upset by Colorado State for 3rd at the MW regional, but still received an at large berth; Ida and Johanna Nilsson combined with Edwards (in an apparent off day), Rogers, and McCreesh combined for a 2:06 spread.

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),

18. Penn State
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. Although Penn State finished 4th at the Mid Atlantic regional, their seasonal record was enough to push themselves and Villanova (who had no notable wins) into the NCAA champs; Landreth led Wale, Lenge, Stevens, and Johnson to a 1:30 1-5 spread (Brauksieck appears to be rebounding and was only 10secs behind the Lions' 5th).

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

19. Nebraska
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. The Huskers upset favored Missouri 60-63 to win the MW regional; Gaffigan led Handrup, Shadle, Tranel, and Pancoast to a 57-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

20. Missouri
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. The Tigers were upset by Nebraska 60-63 at the MW regional despite Bales' individual win; Bales led Ramsey, Lauver, Petersen, and Hansen to 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

21. Texas
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. The 'Horns surprised the field at the SC regional to take home the team title and an automatic berth; Walter, Apud-Martinez, Ross, Jones, and Scarlett combined for a 46-sec 1-5 spread.

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

22. Washington
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. The Huskies surprised a flat Arizona State team to grab 3rd in the West region and were pushed into an at large berth by the Sun Devils; Makestad claimed 5th individually in the competitive region and led Egerdahl, Lia, Williams, and McLeod to a 73-sec 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),

23. Arizona State
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. Arizona State struggled at the West regional and could only finish 4th, but still advanced with an at large berth; Hastings finished 2nd individually to lead Masinelli, Davila, Randall, and Crate to1:51 1-5 split (Lyon had an off day).

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

24. Indiana
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. Indiana claimed 4th at the GL regional and was pushed into the NCAA meet by Marquette; Giesler, Peterson, Siefker, Whitezell, and Overton split 55-sec.

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)

25. Baylor
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. Despite being upset by Texas at the SC regional, the Bears claimed an auto berth as Cornelius, Marvin, Brockman, Ortega, and Dixon split 60-sec for 1-5.

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)

26. Tennessee
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. The Lady Vols then won the South regional; Novak, Cauble, and Hyatt combined with McCalley and Flaute for a 50-sec 1-5 split.

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

27. Duke
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 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. The Blue Devils claimed 4th at the SE regional behind UNC, NC State, and Wake Forest and garnered one of the final at-large berths; Stanley, Rowbury, Roetter, Miller, and Meyerhoff combined for a 30-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)

28. Marquette
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. Marquette claimed 5th at the Great Lakes regionals and was able to push Indiana in the NCAA champs to claim an at large berth; Jakubek, Dahm, Lindeman, Schlitz, and Courtney combined for a 71-sec 1-5 spread.

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. Dartmouth NON QUALIFIER
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. Dartmouth saved their best for last, claiming 3rd at the NE regional behind Providence and Columbia; Schorr (who qualified individually) led Ettenson, Burke, Steel, and Smith to a 47-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

30. Florida State
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. Gill won the South regional to lead her teammates to the runner-up spot and an automatic berth; Gill combined with Hughes, Clinton, Hofstede, and Marsh for a 2:13 1-5 split.

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)

OTHER TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES:

31. Texas Tech NON QUALIFIER
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. Texas Tech claimed 5th at the Mountain regional but failed to garner an at large berth; Yosten, Kimaiyo, Schubert, Akerhielm (in an apparent off day), and Calhoun combined for a 48-sec 1-5 gap.
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)

32. Yale NON QUALIFIER
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. Yale claimed 4th at the NE regional behind Providence, Columbia, and Dartmouth and will be represented in Waterloo by frosh Cara Kiernan; Kiernan combined with Hunter, Chan, Sawicki, and Martin for a 76-sec 1-5 split.

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

33. Boston College NON QUALIFIER
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. BC suffered an off day at regionals and could only claim 5th behind Providence, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Yale (it's doubtful that they would have gotten an at large berth had they finished 3rd given results from other regions and the way that the at large process fell out this year), but will be represented by Jennifer Kramer at the NCAA champs; Kramer led Donovan, Burdick, Smith, and Hessberg to a 1:33 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)

34. West Virginia NON QUALIFIER
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. Although West Virginia could only claim a non-qualifying 5th at the Mid Atlantic regional behind Georgetown, Princeton, Villanova, and Penn State, Megan Metcalfe and Tara Struyk will both be representing their team in Waterloo.

Returnees: Megan Metcalfe, Tara Struyk, Devon Plesuk, Jennifer Kemp, Jennifer Davis, Susan Davis, Rachel Carden

35. Wisconsin
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. Guiney led the Badgers to 6th an at large berth at the GL regional, with Guiney, Edmondson, Kolpin, Haynes, and Blaisdell splitting 84-secs (Lilienthal finished as Wisconsin's 6th runner, while Lane is reported to be out for the season).

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

36. U.C. Santa Barbara
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 Gauchos 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. The Gauchos claimed 5th at the West regional to advance to the NCAA championships for the first time in school history; Rothstein, Christman, Smith, Christman, and Martin split a 75-sec 1-5 split.

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. Illinois NON QUALIFIER

Illinois claimed 3rd at the MW regional behind Nebraska and Missouri, with Cassie Hunt, Pamela Wolf, Casie Simpson, Stephanie Simms, and Jamie Turilli splitting 65-sec.

38. Arkansas NON QUALIFIER
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. The Lady 'Backs finished 3rd at the SC regional just two points behind runner-up Baylor and failed to advance as a team although Shiloh Whiting qualified individually; Whiting combined with Jakosky, Scott, Smith, and Zeinner for a 46-sec 1-5 split.

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)

38. William & Mary NON QUALIFIER
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. The Tribe claimed 5th at the SE regional, but were unable to garner an at large bid; Ali Henderson will be William & Mary's lone rep in Waterloo.

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)

39. Georgia NON QUALIFIER

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. The Lady Dogs finished 3rd at the South region and will only be represented by Kelly Cordell at the NCAA meet.
Returnees: Kelly Cordell, Lauren Burks, Clair Nowakowski
Newcomers: Kristin Heffelfinger, Jill Steffens

39. Virginia Tech NON QUALIFIER
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. V-Tech finished 6th at the SE regional, but Marlies Overbeeke will be her team's lone rep in Waterloo.

41. Nevada NON QUALIFIER
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. While Nevada finished 6th at the Mountain regional and failed to claim an at large berth, Abby McAllister qualified individually.
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

ADDITIONAL TEAMS:

--. Auburn
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. Auburn finished 4th at the South regional and Angela Homan and Catherine Wanyioke advanced to the NCAA champs as individuals.

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

--. Ball State
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. The Cardinal claimed 8th at the GL regional, with Scully leading a 75-sec 1-5 split.

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)

--. Boston University
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 , 4th at America East, and 12th at the NE regional.

Returnees: Dina Mijuskovic (4:36, 9:56); Jessica Iannacci (5:03.54i, 17:16.03), Julie Nazzer (11:07.07s/c)
Newcomer:

--. Brown University
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. Brown rebounded at the NE regional to claim 7th, notching a 42-sec 1-5 spread.

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

--. California
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 and 10th at the West regional, with Bridget Duffy advancing as an individual.

Returnees: Bridget Duffy, Abby Parker, Lindsey Maclise, Maja Ruznic
Newcomers: Christy Borak, Samantha Jones, Eva Markeiwicz

--. Coastal Carolina
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. Coastal finished 10th at the SE regional, but will be represented by Anne Marie Moutsinga at the NCAA champs.
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

--. Cornell
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, 5th at Heps, and 6th at the NE regional.

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)

--. Idaho
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. Idaho finished 6th at the competitive West regional.

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

--. Kentucky
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. Kentucky finished 7th at the SE regional.

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)

--. Minnesota
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. Minnesota claimed 6th at the MW regional.

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:

--. New Hampshire
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. UNH claimed 8th at the NE regional with a 1:54 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

--. Northwestern
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 and 7th at the MW regional.
Returnees: Diana Hossfield (162nd), Emily Blakeslee (204th), Kyna Forkins (232nd), Nora Colligan
Newcomers: Katie Romaine, Casey Shea, Jama Bernard

--. Oregon
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 and 9th at the West regional.

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

--. Portland
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. The Pilots finished 12th at the West regional.
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)

--. Richmond
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. Richmond finished 9th at the SE regional.

Returnees: Lindsey Webber, Nicole Kurtain, Alison Belicose
Newcomers: Danielle Binns, Amanda Russell, Caitlin Smith

--. Southwest Missouri State
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. The Bears claimed 4th behind Nebraska, Missouri, and Illinois at the MW regional, with Owens, Sutton, Chettle, Schafluetzel, and Dewitt splitting 1:37.

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

--. Stony Brook
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. Stony Brook claimed 9th at the NE regional.

Returnees: Jackie Nunez, Leonora Joy (2nd NZL XC Champs; 2:11.92, 4:25, 9:27.01), Laura Hixson, Lauren Gengo
Newcomers: Liz Carlson

--. Texas A&M
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 and 5th at SC regional.

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

--. Texas Christian
TCU finished second to Marquette at the Conference USA meet; Mary Kinyanjui and Ami Butler finished 1-2 to lead Katrina Zielinski, Calandra Stewart, and Heather Isabell to a 1:55 1-5 spread. Mary Kinyanjui and Ami Butler finished 1-3 at the SC regional to lead the squad to 4th in the team standings and advance as individuals to the NCAA champs; the duo combined with Stewart, Zielinski, and Isbell for a 2:15 1-5 gap.

--. Toledo
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 missing from the lineup due to a hernia, Toledo finished second to Ball State at the MAC champs; McCarty, Tye, Moriarty, Cromley, and Stenback combined for a 51-sec 1-5 spilt. Lagat also missed the GL regional at which the Rockets finished 7th and were once again the 1st team out the region not to receive an at large berth, although Chris Tye qualified individually.
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)

--. Vanderbilt
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 and 5th at the South regional behind Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia, and Auburn.

Returnees: Caitlin Shannon,
Newcomers: Ashleigh Wetzel, Shannon Capps, Debbie Huss, Amy Huss

--. Virginia
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.