Analysis of the 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll

by Mike Scott,

University of Rhode Island

Updated: 30 October

 

For the 9th year (with a layoff in 2005), I am analyzing the Women's Division I Coaches' Poll.  Teams are listed according to their ranking in the current edition of the NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL POLL, as conducted by the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association.

 

Notes: Places listed in parentheses refer to finish at the 2005 NCAA D-1 XC Championships at Indiana State University, unless otherwise noted.  Performances are from the 2005-06 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

 

Next Up:

The NCAA Regionals are scheduled for Saturday, November 11 at nine regional sites.

 

 

THE TOP THIRTY TEAMS

1.  STANFORD

Top-rated Stanford won their third NCAA Cross Country title last fall and return their entire squad.  All-Americans Arianna Lambie, Katy Trotter, Lindsay Flacks, Lauren Centrowitz, Teresa McWalters, and Amanda Trotter  will lead the squad, and are joined by returnees Lindsay Allen, Shannon Bergstedt, Katie Harrington, Alicia Follmar, Mary Liz McCurdy, Leah Sawyer and Maddy O'Meara. Newcomers include Kate Niehaus, Anne St. Geme, Kelsey Walker and Kaylin Pennington.  The Cardinal opened their season with a "B" squad claiming second at the UC Aggie Open on Sept. 9.  At their own Sept. 30 Cardinal Invitational, Stanford edged NAIA #1 Simon Fraser 33 to 34 in the 4K, with Allen, Pennington, McCurdy, Sawyer, and O'Meara combining for a 63-sec 1-5 split.  Stanford dominated the 6K race, with Lambie winning and K. Trotter, A. Trotter, Flacks, and Harrington combining for a 31-sec 1-5 gap.  The Cardinal then destroyed the competition at Pre Nats, accumulating a mere 45 points (2-4-5-8-26) in the Blue race with Lambie, McWalters, A. Trotter, K. Trotter, and Flacks combining for a 29-sec 1-5 spread (12-sec 1-4!) over 6K, with Follmar only 4 more seconds behind and either Harrington, Niehaus (1st open race), or Centrowitz (3rd open race) enough to easily win the meet.  Stanford dominated Pac-10s, with Lambie, the Trotters, and McWalters packing it in 10-secs for 1-4 over 6K; with Flacks apparently resting, Centrowitz was 5th for the Cardinal giving them a 40-sec 1-5 spread.

 

2.  NORTH CAROLINA STATE

NC State finished 14th last season at the NCAA harrier meet and return their top four from that team, as well as track All-American Julia Lucas, who missed the 2005 campaign while recoving from burns suffered in a house fire.  Returning with NCAA experience are Jemissa Hess (68th), Magin Kebert (75th), Angelina Blackmon (106th), Brittany Tinsley (133rd).  Newcomer Bona Jones was a Foot Locker finalist and Florida  state champ, while Kara McKenna won the NY indoor 1500 and finished 11th at Footlocker Northeast.  Lucas won the Sept. 15 Raleigh Invite leading Anne Wheatley, Amy Kelly, Jessie Yester, and Georgia Davis to an easy win and a 93-sec 1-5 spread; Tinsley, newcomer Bona Jones, and Angela Blackmon competed unattached and if added to the lineup, the Pack would have had a 35-sec 1-5 split over 5K.  NC State finished second to Michigan but ahead of Providence, Florida State, and Illinois at the Sept. 29 Notre Dame Invite, with Jones, Tinsley, Lucas, and Blackmon running a tight 1-4 pack (24-sec), but then waiting another 26-sec for freshman Kara McKenna.  Lucas won the Pre-Nats White race to lead the Wolfpack to a team win; Lucas, Tinsley, Jones, Blackmon, and Wheatley split 76-sec over 6K.  Lucas also won the ACC meet to help NC State win the title; Lucas combined with Jones, Tinsley, Blackmon, and Wheatly for a 1:47 1-5 spread over 6K.

 

3.  MICHIGAN

Michigan returns Alyson Kohlmeier (59th), Nicole Edwards (72nd),  Arianne Field (145th), Erin Webster (172nd) , Claire Otwell and gains NCAA All-American Katie Gwyther (12th), a grad transfer from Quinnipiac, and Michigan state runner-up Jenny Morgan.  The Wolverines opened their season by placing six runners in the top 10 at the non-scoring Indiana Open on Sept. 9, with Webster winning by a big margin; Webster combined with Gwyther, Edwards, Field, and Otwell for a 67-sec 1-5 split over 5K.  Michigan next won the Sept. 16 Sundodger Invite, with Webster winning again and Edwards, Kohlmeier, Field, and Morgan combining for a 66-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.  Webster won her third straight race at the Sept. 29 Notre Dame Invite to lead the Wolverines to victory, with Kohlmeier, Edwards, Field, and Otwell combining for a 38-sec 1-5 spread over 5K; according to Michigan's website, Gwyther missed the meet due to illness.  Michigan tied Wisconsin for second (but loses on the tie-breaker) behind NC State in the Pre-NCAA White race, Webster, Kohlmeier, Field, Uible, and Otwell split 71-sec for 6K, with Gwyther 1 more sec behind and Edwards just two more ticks behind Gwyther.  Michigan dominated the Big Ten meet, with Webster and Kohlmeier finishing 1-2 and combining with Edwards, Field, and Otwell for a 69-sec 1-5 spread over 6K

 

4.  ARKANSAS

Arkansas claimed 19th at last fall's NCAA meet and return Christine Kalmer (102nd), Dacia Barr (134th), Kelly Vrshek (140th), and Denise Bargiachi (162nd).  Newcomers include Brooke Upshaw, Dani Parry, and Miranda Walker.  Kalmer, Barr, Upshaw, Parry, Walker, and Bargiachi ran together at the Sept. 8 Arkansas Invite to score 15 points.  At the Sept. 16 Aztec Invite, Upshaw, Bargiachi, Parry, Walker, and Barr   combined for 20 points and a 21-sec 1-5 spread over 5K.  Parry, UpShaw, Barr, Bargiachi, and Kalmer combined for a 15-sec 1-5 spread over 6K at the Bill Dellinger meet to down BYU, Wake Forest, Washington, Duke, Butler, and Indiana.  Arkansas notched easy wins over Duke, Texas Tech, VaTech, and Baylor at Chili Pepper, with Upshaw, Kalmer, Bargiachi, Barr, Parry splitting 18-sec over 6K.  The Lady 'Backs dominated the SEC champs, with Upshaw, Barr, and Kalmer finishing 1-2-3 and combining with Parry and Bargiachi for 7-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.

 

5.  WISCONSIN

Wisconsin finished 20th at the 2005 NCAA Champs, with Katrina Rundhaug (36th), Alicia Pabich (111th), Amanda Granser (167th), A'Havahla Haynes (205th), and Ashley Benson (211th) returning with NCAA experience. Newcomers include Hanna Ginaker (7th FL) and Maggie Hippman.  Wisconsin finished second to Princeton by a single point  at the Sept 29 Paul Short Inv but downed Tennessee and Villanova, with Grinaker, Rundhaug, Haynes, Post, and Hippman combining for a 49-sec 1-5 split.  The Badgers tied  Michigan for second (but win on the tie-breaker) behind NC State in the Pre-NCAA White race, with Grinaker, Rundhaug, Haynes, Post, and Hippman combining for a 77-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.  Wisconsin edged Minnesota by a single point at Big Ten's to claim second behind Michigan; Ginaker, Rundhaug, Haynes, Benson, and Hurley combined for an 83-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.

 

6.  MINNESOTA

Minnesota claimed 9th at the 2005 NCAA harrier meet, returning Ladia Albertson-Junkans (21st), Emily Brown (29th), Katie Howery (209th), and Julie Schwengler (217th) from their NCAA lineup.  Two-time Minn. prep champ and 2x Foot Locker Finalist Liz Yetzer joins the squad.  Brown, Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Yetzer, Cheever, and Dorniden split 1:52 for 6K as they swept the top spots at the Sept. 9 Oz Memorial.  The Gophers placed 4th at the Sept 23 Griak Invite behind UCSB, Arizona State, and Baylor, with Brown, Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Cheever, Yetzer, and Laskowske combining for a 91-sec 1-5 spread.  Minnesota swept the top four places at the Sept. 30 South Dakota State Classic, with Brown, Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Yetzer, Cheever, and Dorniden splitting 50-sec over 5K.  The Gophers claimed second behind Stanford in the Pre-NCAA Blue race, with Brown, Albertson-Junkans, Yetzer, Cheever, and Anderson combining for 65-sec 1-5 split over 6K; Laskowske was only 1 more sec behind Anderson.  Minnesota lost a narrow 1-point battle with Wisconsin for runner-up honors at Big Tens behind Michigan; Brown, Albertson-Junkas, Cheever, Anderson, and Yetzer split 64-sec for 6K.

 

7.  UC SANTA BARBARA

With a significant number of their top runners redshirting in 2005, UCSB failed to advance to the NCAA Championships.  However, the Gauchos returned in 2006 with a vengence winning the Sept. 23 Griak Invitational.  Seniors Stephanie Rothstein and Lauren Christman finished 1-2 at Griak, with Lindsay Christman claiming 6th and Bethany Nickless and Liza Hitchner combining for a 1:22 1-5 spread over 6K.  UCSB claimed 4th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with the Christman sisters, Rothstein (off day?), Moser, and Domenichelli splitting 64-sec for 6K.  The Gauchos won the Big West champs, with Lauren Christman, Lindsay Christman, Domenichelli, Moser, and Lewis splitting 1:30 over 6K.

 

8.  ARIZONA STATE

Arizona State claimed the 4th-place trophy last year in Terre Haute, but graduated four of their top five.  Returning for the Sun Devils are All American Jenna Kingma (42nd), Cassie Rios (146th), and Corey Randall (185th).  Arizona State swept 8 of the top 10 spots at the Sept. 15 Dave Murray Invite, with Kingma, Hardt, Kielty, Rios, and Bennett splitting 16-seconds over 4K.  The following week, the Sun Devils placed second to UCSB at the Sept 23 Griak Invite with Kingma, Rios, Duke, Kielty, and Bennett splitting 21-sec over 6K.  Arizona State claimed 3rd in the Pre-Nats Blue race behind Stanford and Minnesota, with Kingma, Rios, Kielty, Bennett, and Duke combining for a 62-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.  The Sun Devils claimed runner-up honors behind Stanford at Pac-10s, with Rios, Bennett, Kingma, Kielty, and Duke splitting 40-sec for 6K.

 

9.  COLORADO

Colorado returns two members of the squad that claimed runner-up honors behind Stanford: Two-time All-American Liza Pascuito (9th, 13th '04) and NCAA steeple champ Jenny Barringer (43rd), who will also be joined by Amber Smith (78th '04) who missed the '05 campaign due to  a medical redshirt.  Joining them will be 2004 Footlocker champ Aislinn Ryan, Wisconsin state champ Claire Maduza,  Idaho state champ Hilary McClendon, and Colorado state runner-up Emily Hanenburg.  Although the team ran the CU Time Trial on Labor Day weekend, the Buffs didn't really open until they raced the Sept. 30 Rocky Mountain Shootout where they dominated the field.  Barringer and Pascuito finished 1-2 to lead CU to an easy win over the field, which included cross state rivals Colorado State, Adams State, and Western State.  Barringer and Pascuito combined with Maduza, Ryan, and Marston for a 58-second 1-5 gap over 5.8K.  The Buffs finished 6th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, UCSB, and Illinois; Barringer, Pascuito, Ryan, Maduza, and Marston split 1:41 for 6K.  Colorado won the Big 12 champs, with Barringer, Pascuito, Maduza, Ryan, and Martson splitting 85-sec for 6K.

 

10.  PROVIDENCE

Providence claimed 16th at last fall's NCAA meet, with Meghan Owen (88th), Aine Hoban (108th), Katie DiCamillo (143rd), and Michelle Childs (232nd) returning from that squad.  The Friars also gain Danette Doetzel (12th '04) a transfer from Michigan State who finished 14th at the 2005 World Junior Cross Country champs.  PC easily downed UNH on Sept 2, with DiCamillo, Hoban, Doetzel, Trefz, and Dougals combining for a 46-sec 1-5 split over 5K.  The Friars then downed Boston College and Yale at the Sept. 15 BC Invite with Hoban, DiCamillo, Trefz, Twohiq, and Douglas splitting 32-seconds over 5K.  PC next finished third at the Sept. 29 Notre Dame Invite behind Michigan and NC State and ahead of Florida State and Illinois with Doetzel leading Hoban, Owen, DiCamillo, and Twohiq to a 20-sec 1-5 spread over 5K.  The Friars claimed 5th in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Stanford, Minnesota, Arizona State, and BYU; Doetzel, DiCamillo, Twohig, Hoban, and Douglas split 65-sec (1-4 split of 25-sec) over 6K; Owen was missing from their finishers.  PC dominated the Big East meet, with Hoban, Doetzel, DiCamillo, Twohig, and Douglas splitting 62-sec 1-5 spread.

 

11.  MICHIGAN STATE

Michigan State claimed 30th last fall in Terre Haute and return Michelle Rafferty (124), Lisa Senakiewich (147), Katie Kelly (156), Jennifer Hamilton (215), and Emily Adama (245), while Alissa McKaig transferred from Baylor.  The Spartans finished 5th at the Griak Invite behind UCSB, Arizona State, Baylor, and Arizona; McKaig, Rafferty, Kelly, Bush, and Price split 84-sec for 6K.  Michigan State placed 6th in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Stanford, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, and Providence; McKaig, Rafferty, Bush, Kelly, and Price combined for a 76-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.  The Spartans claimed 4th at the Big Ten Champs behind Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with McKaig, Rafferty, Bush, Kelly, and Price splitting 1:59 over 6K.

 

12.  BRIGHAM YOUNG

BYU has won 4 NCAA titles in the last decade, but fell to 8th place at last fall's NCAA championships in a rare "off year".  The Cougars return five athletes from last fall's NCAA meet, Heidi Magill (39th), Breanne Sandberg (83rd), Amy Fowler (99th), Anne Heiner (139th), and Anne Marie Thomas (158th); Amber Duffin also returns from last year and appears to be having a breakthough year. 2003 NCAA steeple champ Kassi Andersen, a eight-time All American, returns to the lineup after recovering from a bike accident that left her with a broken hip. Newcomers include Southern Utah transfers Tawny Bybee and Heidi Houle.   BYU opened the season by running "B" teams at home and at Great American, but unleashed most of their top runners at the Sept. 29 Bill Dellinger meet where Andersen won comfortably, while Fowler and Duffin also claimed top 10 finishes; the trio combined with Sandberg and Heiner for a 95-sec 1-5 spread.  Another Cougar "B" team won the Oct. 7 Disney Classic, with Heiner, Frischknecht, Jensen, Ingebretsen, and Porter combining for a 20-sec 1-5 split over 5km.  BYU finished 4th in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Stanford, Minnesota, and Arizona State, with Anderson, Duffin, Fowler, Sandberg, and Heiner splitting 1:37 over 6K.  The Cougars won the Mountain West Conference meet, with Anderson winning and leading Duffin, Fowler, Sandberg, and Heiner to a 73-sec 1-5 spread.

 

13.  ILLINOIS

Illinois finished 5th at the 2005 NCAA champs and returns all 7 from their nationals lineup with Cassie Hunt (11th), Stephanie Simms (37th), Katie Engel (64th), Maggie Carroll (84th), Katie Coppin (87th), Rachel Hernandez (110th), and Liz Mengyan (155th) back.  Ohio prep champ Angela Bizzarri leads the newcomers.  Hernandez, Mengyan, Brokaw, Juhl, and Bennett split 71-sec for the top 5 at the Sept. 15 Illini Challenge.  Bizzarri won the Sept. 22 Brissman-Lunden Invite, with Simms, Baliga, Hunt and Carroll combining with her for a 42-second 1-5 split over 6K.  Illinois claimed 5th at the Sept. 29 Notre Dame Invite behind Michigan, NC State, Providence, and Florida State, with Bizzarri, Hunt, Simms, Carroll, and Baliga splitting 45-secs over 5K.  The Illini finished 5th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and UCSB; Bizzarri, Simms, Baliga, Hunt, and Carroll combined for a 68-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.  Illinois finished 5th at the Big Ten champs behind Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan State; Bizzarri, Simms, Baliga, Hunt, and Carroll combined for an 89-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.

 

14.  DUKE

Duke, which spent much of last season atop the rankings, returns three from its NCAA 3rd place squad including Natasha Roetter (51st), Laura Stanley (69th), Whitney Anderson (71st).  Also returning with NCAA experience are Tiare Ferguson and Lindsay Van Alstine, while Maddie McKeever was on the US team at World Cross Country.  Emily McCabe is a grad transfer from Cornell.  McCabe and McKeever led the Blue Devils with a 1-2 finish at the Sept. 16 JMU Invite, with Roetter, Sherrard, and Patterson combining for a 1:54 1-5 split.  Duke finished 5th at the Sept. 29 Bill Dellinger Inv behind Arkansas, BYU, Wake Forest, and Washington with McCabe finishing third overall, while McKeever, Van Buskirk, Pishny, and Sherrard combined for a 1:49 1-5 spread.  Duke claimed second behind Arkansas at Chili Pepper, with McCabe, McKeever, Van Buskirk, Pishney, and Anderson splitting 86-sec over 6K.  The Blue Devils finished second to NC State at ACCs; McCabe, McKeever, Stanley, Pishny, and Van Buskirk combined for a 79-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.

 

15.  GEORGETOWN

Georgetown finished 27th at last fall’s NCAA harrier meet, returning Maggie Infeld (101), Elizabeth Maloy (144), Lise Ogrodnick (174), Joanna Rodgers (203), Kim Malcolm (233), and Sabine Knothe (238).  Georgetown won the Sept 30 Colonial Interregional, with Maloy, Grelli, Infeld, Funk, and Collins splitting 92-sec for 6K.  The Hoyas claimed 8th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, UCSB, Illinois, Colorado, and Tennessee; Maloy, Grelli, Infeld, Rodgers, and Funk combined for a 78-sec 1-5 split over 6K.  Georgetown claimed runner-up honors behind PC at the Big East Champs, with Malor, Grelli, Funk, Bontz, and Laneaud combining for a 63-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.

 

16.  GEORGIA

Georgia finished 31st in Terre Haute last fall, returning Kiah Vernon (114), Jill Steffens (121), Sarah Madebach (194), Rebekah Madebach (241), and Nicole DeMarco (252) from that squad.  The Lady Bulldogs placed 8th at the Notre Dame Invite behind Michigan, NC State, Providence, Florida State, Illinois, Weber State, and Florida, with Steffens, Picchetti, S. Madebach, Heffelfinger, and DeMarco split 66-sec for 5K; Vernon was a DNF.  Georgia claimed 10th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, UCSB, Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgetown, and Iona; Heffelfinger, Steffens, Picchetti, and the Madebach sisters split 2:22 (22-sec 1-4 split) for 6K, with only five runners finishing (Vernon and DeMarco were DNFs).  Georgia narrowly edged Tennessee for second at the SEC champs behind Arkansas; Steffens, Heffelfinger, Picchetti, Vernon, and Madebach combined for a 50-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.

 

17.  TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech finished 8th at the NCAA Mountain Regional in 2005.  Texas Tech won the Sept 30 Murray Keating Invite, with Kipyego, Kimaiyo, Chemakwila, Kipsang, and Diaz combining for a 97-sec 1-5 gap over 5K.  The Raiders were only 2 points behind 2nd place Duke at the Chili Pepper Invite, with Kipyego, Kimaiyo, Chemakwila, Diaz, and Kipsang splitting 2:37 for 6K.  Texas Tech finished second to CU at the Big 12 Champs; Kipyego won the race by 45-sec over NCAA steeple champ Barringer (CU) and combined with Kimaiyo, Chemakwila, Kipsang, and Diaz for a 2:23 1-5 gap over 6K.

 

18.  TENNESSEE

Tennessee claimed 28th at the 2005 NCAA harrier meet and returns Felicia Guliford (58th), Katie Flaute (113th), Leah Soro (119th), Sarah Bowman (231st), and Rolanda Bell (243rd).  At the Sept. 29 Paul Short meet, the Lady Vols finished 3rd behind Princeton and Wisconsin, but ahead of Villanova and Yale; Flaute, Areson, Van Horn, Bowman, and Parrish split 51-sec for 6K.  Tennessee claimed 7th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, UCSB, Illinois, and Colorado, with Flaute, Bowman, Areson, Van Horn, and Parrish combining for a 53-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.  Tennesse lost a close meet to Georgia at the SEC champs, finishing third behind Arkansas and Georgia; Bowman, Flaute, Areson, Van Horn, and Soro split 39-sec over 6K.

 

19.  IONA

Iona claimed 6th at last fall’s NCAA Northeast Regional, the best finish in the program’s history.  NCAA indoor and outdoor 5000 qualifier Salome Kosgei, 2004 NCAA 5000 outdoor fourth place finisher Emmily Chelanga, and US junior national team member McKayla Plank will lead the Gaels.  Iona won their own Sept 30 Meet of Champions, with Kosgei, Plank, and Chelenga leading Michelle Gallagher and Nicole Soblosky to a 83-sec 1-5 split over 6K.  The Gaels then claimed 9th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, UCSB, Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee, and Georgetown; Plank led the way in 6th individually, with Kosgei, Chelenga, Treacy Williams, and Simeson combining for a 1:44 1-5 spread over 6K.  Iona cruised through the MAAC champs, with Kosgei winning, Chelenga and Plank finishing together, and Gallagher and Simeson helping the Gaels to split 39-sec over 6K.

 

20.  PRINCETON

Princeton placed 11th at last fall's NCAA meet and return six from that squad, with Catha Mullen (62nd), Mia Swenson (122nd), Jolee VanLeuven (141st), Susanne Andrews (170th), Caroline Mullen (181st), and Katie Gose (202nd) all back in the lineup.  Penn. state champ and Footlocker finalist Liz Costello should lead the newcomers.  The Tigers won their own Sept. 9 invite with essentially a "B" team, Glencer, Costello, Johnson, McTague, and Filloux combined for a 32-sec 1-5 split.    Swenson, Johson, Costello, Cara Mullen, and Kiernan combined for a 26-sec 1-5 5K split.  Princeton dominated the annual H/Y/P Tri meet, with Glencer and McTague within 5 more seconds.  The Tigers narrowly edged Wisconsin for the win at Sept 29 Paul Short, with Swenson, Costello, Johnson, McTague, and Kiernan combining for a 45-second 1-5 gap over 6K.  Princeton claimed 9th in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Stanford, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, Providence, Michigan State, Florida State, and Florida; Swenson, VanLeuven, Johnson, Mullen, and McTague split 54-sec for 6K.  The Tigers won the Heps meet, with Johnson, Costello, Van Leuven, and the Mullen sisters splitting 24-sec for 5K.

 

21.  FLORIDA STATE

Florida State failed to qualify for the 2005 NCAA champs, but looks to contend for a top 10 finish this year.  Laura Bowerman (127th) returns with NCAA experience.  Huss (9:20/16:29), Parker (10:13sc), Crate (9:55/17:01), Hagan (17:12), and D. Huss (17:53) split 30-seconds over 5K at the Sept 1 Covered Bridge Open to give the Seminoles the win.  Florida State claimed 4th at the Sept 29 Notre Dame Invite behind Michigan, NC State, and Providence with frosh Susan Kuijken (9:26/16:20) leading Parker, Huss, Wilshire (9:40/16:45), and Hagan to a 52-sec 1-5 split over 5K.   The Seminoles placed 7th in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Stanford, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, Providence, and Michigan State, with Huss, Kuijken, Parker, Crate, and Bowerman splitting 35-sec over 6K.  Florida State placed 4th at ACCs behind NC State, Duke, and Virginia; Kuijken, Huss, Crate, Wilshire, and Willemse combined for an 82-sec 1-5 gap over 6K (apparently Bowerman had an off day and finished two sec behind Willemse).

 

22.  VIRGINIA

Virginia placed 26th at last fall’s NCAA championships, with Emily Harrison, Kara Scanlin, Laura Hodges, Katie Read, Lauretta Dezubay, Jennifer Dolson, and Janine Ricci returning.  The Cavaliers finished 6th at the Roy Griak Invite behind UCSB, Arizona State, Baylor, Minnesota, and Michigan State, with Harrison, Scanlin, Read, Hodges, and Dezubay combining for 99-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.  UVa claimed 11th in the Pre-NCAA Blue Race behind Stanford, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, Providence, Michigan State, Florida State, Florida, Princeton, and Iowa; Harrison, Scanlin, Read, Hodges, and Ricci split 88-sec for 6K.  The Cavaliers finished third at ACCs behind NC State and Duke, with Harrison, Read, Scanlin, Hodges, and Stafford splitting 1:59 over 6K.

 

23.  IOWA

The Hawkeyes appear to have exploded onto the scene this fall.  Iowa's Diane Nukuri, a transfer from Butler County CC where she won nine NJCAA titles, leads the squad along with NCAA indoor Mile All-American Meghan Armstrong. The Hawkeyes opened with an easy win at their Sept. 9 Hawkeye Open, with Nukuri leading Armstrong, Shannon Stanley, Krista Anderson, Racheal Marchand to a 42-sec 1-5 split over 3K.  Iowa then dominated a weak field at the Sept. 30 Auburn Invite, with Nukuri, Armstrong, Stanley, Burke, and Marchand splitting 52-sec over 5K, with an extremly fast average of 16:43 for their top 5.  An off day by Nukuri and Stanley left Iowa placing 10th in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Stanford, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, Providence, Michigan State, Florida State, Florida, and Princeton; Armstrong, Marchand, Nukuri, Anderson, and Stanley combined for 75-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.  Iowa finished 6th at the Big Ten meet behind Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Illinois; Armstrong, Marchand, Nukuri, Anderson, and Burke split 92-sec over 6K.

 

24.  COLORADO STATE

Colorado State placed 4th last fall at the NCAA Mountain Regionals.  The Rams claimed second to Colorado at the Rocky Mountain Shootout, with Feest, Thomas, Korb, Hemphill, and Anthony splitting 71-sec for 5.8K.  CSU finished 11th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, UCSB, Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgetown, Iona, and Georgia; Feest, Thomas, Korb, Loseke, and Anthony combined for a 73-sec 1-5 split over 6K.  Colorado State finished second to BYU at the Mountain West championships, with Feest, Thomas, Anthony, Korb, and Loseke combining for a 54-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.

 

25.  FLORIDA

Florida claimed 7th at the Notre Dame Invite behind Michigan, NC State, Providence, Florida State, Illinois, and Weber State, with Kruzel, Sundell, Nawrocki, Johnson, and Kramer combining for a 29-sec 1-5 gap over 5K. The Gators placed 8th in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Stanford, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, Providence, Michigan State, and Florida State, with Sundell, Geissler, Johnson, Kramer, and Nawrocki splitting 39-sec for 6K.  Florida placed 4th at SECs behind Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee; Sundell, Kruzel, Johnson, Kramer, and Geissler combined for a 58-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.

 

26. VIRGINA TECH

Virginia Tech finished 12th at the 2005 NCAA Southeast Regional.  The Hokies finished second to Georgetown at the Sept. 30 Colonial Interregional, with Sherbak, Gentles, T. Fanning, J. Fanning, and MacPherson combining for a 98-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.   VaTech claimed 4th at the Chili Pepper Invite behind Arkansas, Duke, and Texas Tech; Gentles, Sherbak, Clark, J. Fanning, and T. Fanning split 55-sec for 6K.  The Hokies finished 5th at the ACC meet behind NC State, Duke, UVa, and Florida State; Sherbak, Clark, Gentles, J. Fanning, and T. Fanning combined for a 53-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.

 

27.  BOSTON UNIVERSITY

BU claimed fourth at the NCAA Northeast regionals in 2005.  BU easily dominated the Sept 16 Ted Owen Invite and the Oct. 7 New England championships, with Marissa Ryan, Jennifer Malenovsk, Claire Robson, Gwenyth Stokes, and Anne Wighton splitting 82-sec over 5K at the former race and Ryan, Robson, Wighton, Stokes, and Malenovsk combining for a 82-sec 1-5 gap over 5K at the latter event.  BU won the America East champs, with Ryan, Sadowski, Robson, Lagasse, and Malenovsky splitting 55-sec for 5K.

 

28.  BUTLER

Butler claimed 24th at last fall’s NCAA champs, returning Jenni Pereira, Ava Hutchinson, Kara Henry, Genni Garder, and Maria Beitel.  The Bulldogs claimed 7th at the Roy Griak meet behind UCSB, Arizona State, Baylor, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Virginia, with Holme, Hutchinson, Gardner, Pereira, and Shiell combining for a 91-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.  Butler placed 6th at the Sept. 29 Bill Dellinger Invite behind Arkansas, BYU, Wake Forest, Washington, and Duke, with Holme, Pereira, Gardner, Hutchinson, and Shiell splitting 65-sec for 6K.  The Bulldogs finished 12th in the Pre-NCAA White race behind NC State, Wisconsin, Michigan, UCSB, Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgetown, Iona, Georgia, and Colorado State; Hutchinson, Pereira, Holme, Shiell, and Gardner split 63-sec for 6K.  Butler dominated the Horizon League meet, with Hutchinson, Pereira, Gardner, and Holm finishing 1-2-3-4 and combining with Henry for a 48-sec 1-5 gap over 5K.

 

29.  WASHINGTON

Washington failed to advance to the 2005 NCAA champs, but return NCAA 1500 champ Amy Lia and individual qualifier Anita Campbell (94th).  The Huskies finished second in the collegiate standings at the Sept. 16 Sundodger Invite behind Michigan, with Lia, Campbell, Katie Follett, Tori Tyler, and Trisha Rasmussen splitting 32-seconds for 6K.  The Dawgs claimed 4th at the Sept. 29 Bill Dellinger Invite behind Arkansas, BYU, and Wake Forest and ahead of Duke, Butler, and Indiana, with Campbell, Lia, Follett, Rasmussen, and Lademen combining for a 43-second 1-5 gap over 6K.  Washington finished 19th in the White Race at Pre-NCAAs, with Campbell, Follett, Lia, Rassmussen, and Schuster splitting 57-sec for 6K.   The Huskies claimed third at Pac-10s following Stanford and Arizona State; Lia, Campbell, Millers, Rasmussen, and Lademan split 67-sec 1-5 over 6K.

 

30.  WEBER STATE

Weber State finished fifth in the Mountain Region in 2005 and returns NCAA qualifier and USATF junior steeple bronze medallist Katie Bowen (81st); Bowen was listed in an early season release as recovering from a foot injury but she did compete at in an early season race. The Wildcats claimed sixth at the Notre Dame Invite behind Michigan, NC State, Providence, Florida State, and Illinois; Anderson, Bouwhuis, Stubbs, Ricks, and Long split 44-sec over 5K.  Weber State finished 13th in the Blue Race at Pre-NCAAs, with Anderson, Haws, Bouwhuis, Long, and Stubbs combining for a 57-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.  The Wildcats won the Big Sky championships despite their top runner Anderson struggling with a bad cold and not scoring; Long, Bouwhuis, Haws, Stubbs, and Ricks split 32-sec over 5K.