Analysis of the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll

by Mike Scott,

University of Rhode Island

Updated: 5 November

For the 10th 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 2006 NCAA D-1 XC Championships at Indiana State University, unless otherwise noted. Performances are from the 2006-07 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 10 at nine regional sites.

1. STANFORD

The defending champion Cardinal have won four NCAA harrier titles overall, including three of the last four and the last two consecutive crowns. Stanford returns five from last year's championship team, including Ari Lambie (4th), Teresa McWalters (31st), Lindsay Flacks (56th), Alicia Follmar (149th), and Lauren Centrowitz (172nd). At the 9/29 Stanford Invite, the Cardinal swept the long course and short course races, with Lambie winning the 6km, followed by Follmar, Centrowitz, Niehaus, and Harrington with an 80-sec 1-5 spread. Standford dominated the PreNats Blue race, with McWalters, Lambie, Follmar, Gits, and Niehaus splitting 67-sec for the top 5. Lambie and McWalters finished 1-2 to lead Stanford to the win at the Pac-10 meet over Oregon and Arizona State; Centrowitz, Niehaus, and Harrington combined with Lambie and McWalters for a 72-sec over 6K.

2. OREGON

The Ducks failed to qualify for the 2006 championships, but appear to not only be on track to qualify but contend for a trophy. Oregon won their own Dellinger Invite over Arkansas and Washington; Blood won the race, while Kosinski claimed third and Sammons, Wetsch, and Bies combined to split 67-sec over 6K. Kosinski and Blood claimed 3-4 to lead Oregon to second at Pac-10s behind Stanford; Kosinski, Blood, Wetsch, Buckman, and Nelson combined for a 61-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.

3. FLORIDA STATE

The Seminoles finished 21st in 2006; Susan Kuijken (27th), Debbie Huss (118th), Laura Bowerman (132nd), and Amy Huss (151st). Kuijken won the Notre Dame Invite to lead Florida State to third behind Rice and Illinois; Kuijken combined with England, Huss, McSine, and Hagen for an 87-sec 1-5 spread over 5K. Kuijken was a surprising individual winner in the PreNats Blue race to lead the Seminoles to runner up status behind Stanford; Kuijken, Parker, England, Huss, and McSine split 86-sec over 6K. Kuijken continued her winning ways at the ACC meet and led Florida State to the team title with Parker, England, McSine, and Hagen helping the squad to a 1:48 split over 6K.

4. PRINCETON

The Tigers finished 23rd in 2006 and return Jolee Van Leuven (81st), Christy Johnson (103rd), Liz Costello (162nd), and Alexa Glencer (182nd). Princeton won Paul Short, with Johnson, Costello, Van Leuven, Higginson, and Cummings splitting 34-sec over 6K. The Tigers won the Prenats white race, with Costello, Johnson, Cummings, Higginson, and Brandeland splitting 46 sec over 6K. Princetone dominated the HEPs meet, with Costello and Johnson going 1-2 and combining with Brandeland, Van Leuven, and Higginson for a 37-sec 1-5 spread.

5. ARIZONA STATE

The Sun Devils finished 13th at the 2006 championships and return six from that squad: Jenna Kingma (60th), Ali Kiety (68th), Kari Hardt (88th), Cassie Rios (102nd), Brooke Bennett (154th), and Krystal Duke (160th). ASU finished just three points behind Minnesota at the Griak Invite, with Hardt, Kingma, Kielty, Spadafino, and Bando splitting 88-sec over 6K. The Sun Devils finished second in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, with Kingma, Hardt, Kielty, Olson, and Duke splitting 57 sec over 6K. Arizona St tied Washington for third (Sun Devils edge UW on tie-breaker) at Pac-10s behind Stanford and Oregon, with Kingma, Kielty, Hardt, Olson, and Spadafino splitting 48-sec over 6K.

6. MINNESOTA

The Gophers claimed 11th at the 2006 NCAA championships, returning Ladia Albertson-Junkans (19th), Elizabeth Yetzer (108th), Gabrielle Anderson (127th), Jamie Cheever (150th), Amy Laskoske (157th), and Heather Dorniden (185th). Minnesota won their own Griak Invite, with Cheever, Anderson, Yetzer, Albertson-Junkans, and Dornider combining for a 33-sec 1-5 spread over 6K. The Gophers finished fourth in the Prenats Blue race behind Stanford, Florida St, and Michigan St; Cheever, Yetzer, Anderson, Albertson-Junkans, and Duwell split 53-sec over 6K. Minnesota edged Michigan State for the Big Ten crown by a single point, with Albertson-Junkans leading Anderson, Yetzer, Cheever, and Dorniden to a tight 21-sec 1-5 spread over 6K.

7. WASHINGTON

The Huskies didn't advance to the NCAAs in 2006; Anita Campbell finished 89th at the championships and is joined by three time Foot Locker runner up Mel Lawrence. Washington finished third at Dellinger behind Oregon and Arkansas; Follett, Campbell, Lawrence, Miller, and Rasmussen split 71-sec for 6K. The Huskies finished fourth in the Prenats White race; Campbell, Miller, Follett, Lawrence, and Schuster split 47-sec over 6K. Washington tied Arizona St for third (Sun Devils edge UW on tie-breaker) at Pac-10s behind Stanford and Oregon; Campbell, Follett, Lawrence, Miller, and Rasmussen combine for 46-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.

8. MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans finished 12th at last fall's NCAA meet and return Alissa McKaig (10th), Nicole Bush (101st), Sarah Price (171st), Diane Hamilton (224th), and Leah Elenbass (252nd). MSU finished just behind Minnesota and Arizona St at the Griak Invite, with Bush, McKaig, Price, Senakiewich, and Kelly splitting 53-sec over 6K. The Spartans claimed third in the Prenats Blue race behind Stanford and Florida St; McKaig, Bush, Senakiewich, Price, and Kelly split 54-sec over 6K. Michigan State fell by a single point to Minnesota at the Big Ten meet, with Bush, McKaig, Senakiewich, Price, and McCormack splitting 82-sec over 6K.

9. MICHIGAN

The Wolverines claimed third in 2006 and return Nicole Edwards (12th), Alyson Kohlmeier (49th), Erin Webster (51st), Claire Otwell (122nd), Laura Glynn (191st), and Eileen Creutz (208th). Michigan finished fourth at Notre Dame behind Rice, Illinois, and Florida St, with Edwards (3rd overall), Webster, Tauro, Uible, and Gall splitting 63-sec over 5K. The Wolverines finished third behind Princeton and Arizona St, with Edwards, Webster, Morgan, Uible, and Tauro combining for a 53-sec 1-5 split. Michigan finished third at Big Ten behind Minnesota and Michigan St, with Edwards, Webster, Gall, Uible, and Morgan splitting 47-sec over 6K.

10. ARKANSAS

The Lady 'Backs finished fifth at last fall's harrier championship and return the entire squad: Brooke Upshaw (37th), Dacia Barr (58th), Dani Parry (64th), Denise Bargiachi (86th), Christine Kalmer (117th), Miranda Walker (134th), Kelly Vrshek (215th). Arkansas claimed runner-up honors behind Oregon and ahead of Washington at the Dellinger Inv, with Kalmer, Rosen, Bargiachi, Parry, and White splitting a tight 36-sec over 6K. The Lady 'Backs finished a close second to Texas Tech at their own Chili Pepper meet, with Bargiachi leading Parry, Walker, Kalmer, and Rosen to a 38-sec 1-5 gap over 6K. Arkansas dominated the SEC champs, with Kalmer, Rosen, Bargiachi, Parry, and Varr splitting 33-sec over 6K.

11. COLORADO STATE

The Rams claimed 24th in 2006 and return April Thomas (42nd), Kristen Anthony (146th), Kristen Hemphill (156th), Heather Loseke (219th), and Ashley Velez (240th). Colorado State claimed fourth at the Dellinger Inv behind Oregon, Arkansas, and Washington, with Thomas, Loseke, Hemphill, Anthony, and Gohl splitting 41-sec over 6K. The Rams claimed sixth in the Prenats Blue race behind Stanford, Florida St, Michigan St., Minnesota, and Georgetown; Thomas, Loseke, Gohl, Hemphill, and Anthony split 33-sec over 6K. Colorado State downed BYU again at the Mountain West champs, with Thomas and Anthony finishing 1-2 to seal the win; Thomas and Anthony combined with Hemphill, Gohl, and Thomas for a 59-sec 1-5 split over 6K.

12. ILLINOIS

The Fighting 'Illini finished eighth at last fall's NCAA meet and return Angela Bizzarri (28th), Stephanie Baliga (63rd), Maggie Carroll (169th), Shannon Phelan (189th), and Rachel Hernandez (193rd). Illinois finished second to Rice at the Notre Dame Inv, with Bizzari finishing second overall and Engel, Hernandez, Baliga, and Woods joining her for a 69-sec split over 5K. The Illini finished fifth in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, Arizona St, Michigan, Washington; Bizzarri, Engel, Woods, Baliga, and Hernandez split 64-sec over 6K. Illinois claimed fourth at Big Ten behind Minnesota, Michigan St, and Michigan, with Bizzarri, Engle, Woods, Baliga, and Hernandez splitting 61-sec for 6K.

13. COLORADO

The Buffalo were last year's runners up and have won two title since 2000, including the 2004 championship. Colorado returns NCAA individual runner up Jenny Barringer, as well Aislinn Ryan (46th), Erin Marston (165th), Emily Hanenburg (214th), and Hilary McClendon (223rd), as well as Sara Vaughn. Foot Locker finalists Alison Sawyer (NY Champ, 3rd NTN, 32nd FL) and Allison Eckert (22nd in '04FL; also qualified in '05 and '06) join the squad. Vaughn and Marston finished 1-2 at the Shootout, with Thweatt, Sawyer, and Anna Chase splitting 97-sec over 5.8K. with Morgan Ekemo and Eckert just behind. Neither Barringer -- who represented the US in the steeple at the World Champs in Osaka after winning the US steeple title -- or Ryan raced the Shootout. Colorado tied BYU for sixth (CU got the nod on the tiebreaker) in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, Arizona St, Michigan, Washington, and Illinois; Barringer won the White race, while Vaughn, Marsten, Thweatt, and Eckert combined to split 1:55 over 6K (Ryan didn't compete). In what has become their trademark, at the Big 12 meet the Buffs overcame a 93-78 deficit behind Texas Tech at 3K to comfortably down the Red Raiders 59 to 83 at the finish; Barringer combined with Marston, Vaughn, Thweatt, and Ryan for a 2:22 1-5 spread.

14. WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers didn't advance to the show in 2006, but return NACAC cross country runner up Maria-Loiuse Asselim (Canada) and US NACAC Team member Keri Bland. West Virginia finished second to Princeton at Paul Short, with Asselin, Bland, Grandt, Harrison, and Christopher splitting 92-sec over 6K. The Mountaineers took the Penn State National, with Asselin, Bland, Clara, Harrison, and Christopher splitting 72-sec over 6K. West Virginia won the Big East meet, with Assenlin, Bland, Grandt, Dalzot, and Harrison splitting 81-sec over 6K.

15. PROVIDENCE

The Friars claimed seventh at the 2006 NCAA meet, returning Krystal Douglas (80th), Breffini Twohig (93rd), Katie Dicamillo (96th), Danette Doetzel (116th), and Nelle Trefz (249th). Providence claimed sixth at Notre Dame behind Rice, Illinois, Florida St, Michigan, and Boston College with Doetzel, DiCamillo, Childs, Douglas, and Twohig splitting 72-sec for 5K. The Friars finished ninth in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, Arizona St, Michigan, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, BYU, and Iowa; Doetzel, DiCamillo, Childs, Douglas, and Morgan split 1:56 over 6K. Providence finished second at Big Easts, with Doetzel, DiCamillo, Douglas, Childs, and Twohig splitting 97-sec over 6K.

16. RICE

Rice didn't advance to the championship meet in 2006, but appears to be on course in 2007. Rice surprised the field at the Notre Dame Invite to pick up wins over Illinois, Florida State, and Michigan; Daniels, Pye, Waite, Wade, and Wells split 44-sec for 1-5. The Owls finished seventh in the Prenats Blue race behind Stanford, Florida St, Michigan St, Minnesota, Georgetown, and Colorado St, with Marissa, Pye, Wade, Wells, and Waite splitting 41-sec over 6K. Rice dominated the Conference USA meet, with Daniels, Pye, Wade, Wells, and Mericle splitting 36-sec over 5K.

17. BRIGHAM YOUNG

The Cougars have won four NCAA titles since 1997, but have been dry since their last win in 2002. Brigham Young finished 22nd in 2006 and returned Amy Fowler, Amber Duffin, Whitney McDonald, and Jenna Jensen. BYU finished fifth at Dellinger behind Oregon, Washington, and Colorado St, with Bowen, Wagner, Duffin, Fowler-Layne, and Jensen splitting 42-sec over 6K. The Cougars tied Colorado for sixth (CU gets the nod on the tiebreaker) in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, Arizona St, Michigan, Washington, and Illinois; Wagner, Bowen, Jensen, Lemmon, and Duffin split 26-sec over 6K. BYU finished second at the Mountain West champs to Colorado St, with Bowen, Wagner, Bybee, Lemmon, and Duffin splitting 28-sec over 6K.

18. TEXAS TECH

NCAA champion Sally Kipyego returns to lead the Red Raiders, sixth at the '06 NCAA meet. Joining Kipyego from the '06 NCAA championships squad are Irene Kimaiyo (9th), Gladys Kipsang (144th), Asia Diaz (168th), and Michelle Edman (253rd). Kipyego and Kimaiyo ran to a 1-2 finish at the Paul Short meet to lead Texas Tech to third behind Princeton and West Virginia; joining this dynamic duo were Kipsang, Diz, and Guzman, who split 2:31 for 6K. Kipyego smoked the course at Chili Pepper leading Texas Tech to a narrow win over Arkansas; Kipyego, Kimaiyo, Kipsang, Diaz, and Boit split 2:36 over 6K. Kipyego ran away with the Big 12, but the Red Raiders couldn't maintain a lead in the team scoring at the halfway point and finished second to Colorado; Kipyego was joined by Kimaiyo, Kipsang, Boit, and Diaz for a 2:31 1-5 spread.

19. IOWA

The Hawkeyes claimed 17th in 2006 and return their entire top seven: Diane Nukuri, Racheal Marchand, Meghan Armstrong, Jessica Schmidt, Jolly Burke, Krista Anderson,and Molly Esche. Iowa finished eighth in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, Arizona St, Michigan, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, and BYU; Nukrui, Armstrong, Burke, Anderson, and Schmidt split 1:52 over 6K. Nukuri won the individual crown at Big Tens to lead Iowa to fifth behind Minnesota, Michigan St, Michigan, and Illinois; Nukuri combined with Armstrong and Burke -- all three in the top nine -- as well as Schmidt and Anderson for a 2:10 1-5 gap over 6K.

20. GEORGETOWN

The Hoyas placed 15th in 2006 and return Melissa Grelli (39th), Elizabeth Malory (44th), Jennie Funk (110th), Maggie Infeld (129th), Natasha Labeaud (190th), and Joanna Rodgers (222nd). Georgetown finished 2nd at the 9/29 W&M Interregional to Virginia Tech, with Grelli, Ogrodnick, Gregory, Malmquist, and Tomlin split 93-seconds. The Hoyas claimed fifth in the Prenats Blue race, with Grelli combining with Ogrodnick, Maloy, Rodgers, and Malmquist for a 74-sec 1-5 gap over 6K. Grelli won Big East meet to lead Georgetown to third behind the West Virginia and Providence; Grelli, Malor, Ogrodnick, Tomlin, and Gregory split 69-sec over 6K.

21. NORTH CAROLINA STATE

The Wolfpack finished 19th in 2006. NC State claimed seventh at Notre Dame behind Rice, Illinois, Florida St, Michigan, BC, and Providence; Tinsley, Blackmon, Jones, Wetherbee, and Wheatley split 83-sec for 5K. The Wolfpack finished tenth in the Prenats blue race; Tinsley, Blackmon, Jones, Wetherbee, and Walker split 28-sec over 6K. NC State claimed second behind Florida St at ACCs, with Tinsley, Blackmon, Wetherbee, Walker, and Jones splitting 76-sec over 6K.

22. NORTHERN ARIZONA

The Lumberjacks didn't advance to the 2006 championships. Northern Arizona finished eighth in the Prenats Blue race behind Stanford, Florida St, Michigan St, Minnesota, Georgetown, Colorado St, and Rice; Paulson, Van Miert, Leutert, Griggs, and Hardt split 41-sec over 6K. NAU won the Big Sky champs, with Van Miert, Paulson, Boyd, Leuter, and Griggs splitting 36-sec over 5K.

23. WISCONSIN

The Badgers finished 4th at last year's NCAA meet and return Hanna Grinaker (13th), Sara Hurley (105th), Asheley Benson (139th), Maggie Hippman (195th), and Emily Post (198th). Wisconsin finished fourth at Paul Short behind Princeton, West Virginia, and Texas Tech, with Hintz, Ginaker, Jorgensen, K. Hurley, and S. Hurley splitting 82-sec. The Badgers finished ninth in the Prenats Blue race behind Stanford, Florida St, Michigan St, Minnesota, Georgetown, Colorado St, Rice, and Northern Ariz; Ginaker, Hintz, Jorgensen, Hurley, Detmer split 58-sec for 6K. Wisconsin finished sixth at Big Ten behind Minnesota, Michigan St, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, with Grinaker, Jorgensen, Detmer, Ganser, and Hintz splitting 61-sec over 6K.

24. BOSTON COLLEGE

The Eagles placed 30th in 2006. BC finished fifth at Notre Dame behind Rice, Illinois, Florida St, and Michigan with Champa, Lister, Chabot, King, and Titus splitting 43-sec over 5K. The Eagles finished 12th in the Prenats Blue race; Lister, Chabot, Champa, King, and Titus split 61-sec over 6K. BC claimed third at ACCs behind Florida St and NC St, with Champa, Chabot, Lister, Driscoll, and Heyde splitting 71-sec over 6K.

25. TENNESSEE

The Lady Vols claimed 28th in 2006 and return Sarah Bowman, Katie Van Horn, Jackie Areson, and Leah Soro. Tennessee finished eighth at the Penn State Open behind West Virginia, Penn St, Kentucky, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Duke, and Cornell. The Lady Vols earned runner-up honors behind Arkansas at the SEC champs, with Bowman, Van Horn, Magill-Dahl, Sheffrey, and Areson split 63-sec over 6K.

26. NORTH CAROLINA

The Tarheels placed 31st in 2006 and return All American Brianna Felnagle along with Megan Kaltenbach, Addie Bracy, Emily Hoffman, and Morgan Stengel. North Carolina finished twelfth in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, Arizona St, Michigan, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, BYU, Iowa, Providence, Florida, and Georgia; Felnagle, Kaltenbach, Bracy, Stengel, and Lareau split 2:08 over 6K. UNC claimed fourth at ACCs behind Florida St, NC St, and Boston College, with Felnagle finishing third overall and combining with Kaltenbach, Bracy, Stengle, and LaReau for a 2:09 1-5 spread.

27. UC SANTA BARBARA

The Gauchos finished ninth at last fall's NCAA meet, returning Bethany Nickless (153rd) and Danielle Domenichelli (187th). UCSB finished fourth at Griak behind Minnesota, Arizona St, and Michigan St, with Nickless, Lewis, Hitchner, Domenichelli, and Brown combining for a 97-sec 1-5 gap. The Gauchos finished 11th in the Prenats Blue race, with Nickless, Lewis, Domenchelli, Hitchner, and Brown splitting 71-sec over 6K. UCSB won the Big West championship, with Lewis and Nickless claiming 1-2, Domenichelli, Hitcher, and Strenkoski adding to a 1:41 split over 6K.

28. PENN STATE

The Nittany Lions didn't advance in 2006, but return individual qualifier Bridget Franek (173rd). Penn State finished second to West Virginia at their own 10/12 meet, wth Franek, Rosenfeld, Spring, Berryman, and Percival splitting 37-sec over 6K. The Lions finished seventh at the Big Ten meet behind Minnesota, Michigan St, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin; Franek, Spring, Rosenfield, Berryman, and Percival split 90-sec over 6K.

29. GEORGIA

The Bulldogs placed 15th in 2006. Georgia finished sixth at Dellinger behind Oregon, Arkansas, Washington, Colorado St, and BYU; Vernon, Madebach, DeMarco, Pichetti, and Emily combined for a 51-sec 1-5 spread. The Bulldogs finished eleventh in the Prenats white race behind Princeton, Arizona St, Michigan, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, BYU, Iowa, Providence, and Florida; Madenbach, Vernon, Demarco, Picchetti, and Skinner split 87sec over 6K. Madebach won the SEC meet, but the Bulldogs finished third behind Arkansas and Tennessee; behind Madebach, Picchetti, Vernon, Houston, and DeMarco combined for a 71-sec 1-5 spread.

30. NEBRASKA

The Cornhuskers didn't advance in 2006. Nebraska claimed fifth at Griak behind Minnesota, Arizona St, Michigan St, and UC Santa Barbara with Crofford, Goldstein, Dalton, Zarcenko, and Carrizales splitting 39-sec over 6K. The Huskers finished 13th in the Prenats Blue race, with Crofford, Zarcenko, Goldstein, Dalton, Carrizales splitting 59-sec over 6K. Nebraska grabbed third at Big 12s behind Colorado and Texas Tech, with Crofford, Goldstein, Zarcenko, Carrizales, and Pancost combining for a 67-sec 1-5 gap over 6K.