Analysis of the 2008 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll

by Mike Scott,

University of Rhode Island

Updated: 18 November

For the 11th 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 2007 NCAA D-1 XC Championships at Indiana State University, unless otherwise noted. Performances are from the 2007-08 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 Championships are scheduled for Monday, November 24. Two numbers to keep in mind:

* 36 (the lowest winning women’s point total at the NCAA Women’s Division I Cross Country Championships, achieved by Virginia in 1981 -- the first year of the women’s NCAA Championships)

* 3 (the number of NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Individual titles that Sally Kipyego will have if she wins on Monday; this would be a Division I women’s record -- one only equaled by three NCAA Division I Men – Gerry Lindgren, Steve Prefontaine and Henry Rono)

1. Washington

The Huskies return six from the squad that claimed eighth at last fall’s NCAA harrier meet, including Katie Follett (19th), Anita Campbell (20th), Amanda Miller (108th), Mel Lawrence (117th), and Lauren Saylor (253rd). Joining this already stellar squad is Canadian junior champ Kendra Schaaf (20th World Jr XC) and US 1600 prep record holder Christine Babcock. Schaaf broke the oft-run Sundodger course record in her first effort as a Husky, running 19:58 under wet conditions, while Mel Lawrence showed she’s back in the top form that led her to three Foot Locker runner-up performances as a prep star. The Huskies dominated the field at the 10/4 Auburn Invite, putting seven in the top nine with Schaaf, Babcock, Lawrence, Follett, and Saylor combined for a 31-sec 1-5 spread over 5k. Washington then backed up their number 1 ranking by blowing away the field in the Pre-Nationals Blue race and recording what this author believes is the fastest women’s team time on the oft-run Indiana State course (definitely since the reconfiguration of the women’s course layout in 2006) – a swift 20:21 that any individual would covet – not to mention a team average! The only surprise was that Schaaf and Babcock fell not only to UNC’s Brie Felnagle, but also to Auburn’s Hollie Knight whom both had beaten the previous week at Auburn; Schaaf, Babcock, Lawrence, Follett, and Campbell split 23-sec over 6km, with Sayler also breaking 21:00 [UW also sat out Miller, who could figure into their scorers].

Washington made history by perfect scoring the entire Pac-10 – sweeping 1-2-3-4-5-6-places ahead of #2 ranked Oregon – at the conference championships, winning their first loop title since 1989 and ending Stanford’s 12 year winning streak. Schaaf dominated from the gun, winning by 28-seconds over teammates Lawrence and Babcock; Campbell, and Follett combined for a 40-sec 1-5 spread over 6km, with Miller only 6 more seconds behind.

The Huskies dominated the West regional despite resting Schaaf and Saylor; Babcock, Lawrence, Follett, Campbell, and Miller finished 3-4-5—6-7 with an 11-sec spread.

2. Oregon

Last year’s runner-up Ducks return six of the seven members of their NCAA team to challenge for the title. All Americans Nicole Blood (8th;’06 US Champ; 3rd NCAA 5k) and Alexandra Kosinski (13th) lead Zoe Buckman (39th; 4th NCAA 800), Bria Wetsch (76th), Zoe Nelson, and Brook Giuffre back from the ’07 championship. All-Americans Lindsey Scherf (38th ’04; 18th ’05 World Jr XC; US Jr 10k record), a transfer from Harvard, and Melissa Grelli (10th, 39th ’06; 2nd ’07 NCAA 10k), a transfer from Georgetown, will bolster the already strong Oregon women’s squad, which seeks its first NCAA harrier title under coach Vin Lananna and the first since 1987. The Ducks dominated the 10/4 Dellinger Invite, with Kosinski, Grelli, Blood, Mattie Bridgmon, and Scherf splitting 47-sec over 6km. Oregon was shocked by the Huskies who perfected scored them at the A-10 championships on their home course; Scherf led the Ducks with her seventh-place finish (behind 6 Huskies) about 10 seconds ahead of Blood; Scherf, Blood, Kosinski, Grelli, and Bridgmon split 26-sec over 6km, with Nelson finishing in the same time as Bridgmon. Despite Kosinski and Blood finishing 1-2 at the West Regional, Oregon finished a distant second to Washington; Kosinski and Blood combined with Bridgmon, Scherf, Nelson for a 33-sec 1-5 spread.

3. Florida State

Florida State claimed third at NCAAs last fall behind Susan Kuijken’s individual bronze. The Seminoles return five of the top seven from that squad, including Kuijken, Pilar McShine (70th), Lydia Willemse (127th), and Christine Woytalewicz. Northern Arizona transfer Lesley Van Miert (55th; 9th NCAA5k), Foot Locker finalist Kacey Gibson (12th FL), and Alabama prep champ Jennifer Dunn join the squad. Florida State won the Notre Dame invitational, with Kuijken finishing 5 seconds behind UNC’s Brie Felnagle; behind Kuijken, Van Miert, Willemse, McShine, and Snow combined for a 55-sec 1-5 spread over 5km. Kuijken won the Pre-NCAA White race with the fastest time of the day to lead the Seminoles to a tie with Princeton for the team title (FSU would win on the NCAA tie-breaker 3-2); Kuijken combined with Van Miert, McShine, Snow, and Willemse for a 87-sec 1-5 spread. FSU dominated the ACC meet; Kuijken edged VT’s Fanning and UNC’s Felnagle for the individual crown to lead Van Miert, McShine, Snow, and Willemse to a 49-sec 1-5 split. The Seminoles won the South Region, with Kuijken and McShine finishing together to lead Snow, Willemse, and Gibson to a 29-sec 1-5 gap (Van Miert did not appear in the results).

4. Princeton

Princeton claimed 14th at last fall’s NCAA meet and returns Christy Johnson, Ashley Higginson, Megan Brandeland, Sarah Cummings, Jolee Vanleuven, and Liz Costello. Foot Locker finalist Alex Banfich (21st FL) joins the squad. Brandeland, Cummings, Higginson, Banfich, Costello, and Riley Kiernan ran together to finish 1-6 at the annual H-Y-P meet with a 3-sec 1-5 spread over 5k. The Tigers claimed second behind Florida State at the Notre Dame Invitational, with Banfich, Johnson, Cunnings, Higginson, and Keirnan splitting a minuscule 13-sec 1-5 gap over 5km. Princeton gained some revenge at the Pre-NCAA White race, tying the Seminoles for the team title with Costello leading Brandeland, Higginson, Banfich, and Kiernan to a 38-sec 1-5 spread. The Tigers nearly perfect-scored the Heps field, with Costello, Brandeland, Kiernan, Glencer, and Cummings finishing 1-2-3-5-6 and splitting 45-sec over 5km (Costello won with a sub-17:00 clocking on the venerable Van Cortland course, 35-sec ahead of second place Brandeland). Princeton tied West Virginia for the win at the Mid-Atlantic Regional, with Costello, Vanleuven, Banfich, Brandeland, and Kiernan splitting 64-sec over 6km.

5. West Virginia

The Mountaineers placed ninth at last fall’s NCAA meet and return all seven from that squad. Returnees include All Amercans Marie-Louise Asselin and Keri Bland, as well as Grandt Clara, Maria Dalzot, Mandy McBean, Kaylyn Christopher, and Alison Spiker. Newcomers include Sarah-Anne Brault and Jessica O’Connell. West Virginia dominated the field at Paul Short, with Asselin winning and combining with Grandt, Bland, Lewis, and Harrison for a 75-sec 1-5 split over 6km. The Mountaineers dominated the Penn State Nationals without Asselin, with Bland and Grandt finishing 2-3 overall to lead Lewis, Christopher, and Harrison to a 57-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. West Virginia narrowly fell to Villanova at the Big East champs, with Asselin winning and Grandt, Bland, Christopher, and Lewis spread over 80-sec at 6km. The Mountaineers tied Princeton for the win at the Mid-Atlantic Regional; Bland, Grandt, Asselin, Lewis, and Christopher splitting 51-sec over 6km.

6. Minnesota

Minnesota placed 12th at the 2007 NCAA meet and returns all seven from that team: Jamie Cheever, Elizabeth Yetzer, Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Gabriele Anderson, Sally Paulson, Megan Duwell, and Heather Dorniden. The Gophers downed Arizona State to win the Griak meet, with Duwell, Anderson, Cheever, Dorniden, and Mallory Van Ness splitting a tight 18-sec 1-5 spread over 6k on their home course. Minnesota claimed third in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington and Villanova, with Duwell, Anderson, Mensing, Van Ness, and Laskowske splitting 33-sec over 6km. The Gophers successfully defended their Big Ten title, edging Wisconsin for the crown; Duwell, Anderson, Laskowske, Van Ness, and Cheever combined for a 62-sec 1-5 gap over 6km. Minnesota won the Midwest Regional and an auto berth, with Duwell, Anderson, Laskowske, Van Ness, and Mensing splitting 44-sec over 6km.

7. Villanova

Villanova placed fifth at the 2007 Mid-Atlantic regional. Frances Koons, the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Regional champ, redshirted the 2007 season but returns to lead ‘Nova; newcomer Bogdana Mimic was world junior finalist. The Wildcats claimed second at Paul Short behind West Virginia with Frances Koons, Bogdana Mimic, Kaitlyn Tallman, Amanda Marino, and Sarah Morrison splitting 46-sec over 6km. ‘Nova claimed runner-up honors at the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington, with Mimic, Koons, Tallman, Marino, and Hogan splitting 42-sec over 6km. Villanova edged defending champ West Virginia for the Big East title, with Koon, Mimic, Tallman, Marino, and Morrison splitting 52-sec over 6km. The Wildcats finished a close third to Princeton and West Virginia at the Mid-Atlantic Regional with Koons winning to lead Mimic, Hogan, Tallman, and Morrison to a 89-sec 1-5 gap over 6km and an at-large berth (Marino didn’t appear in the results).

8. Michigan

Michigan placed 21st at the 2007 NCAA meet. Returning are Nicole Edwards, Danielle Tauro, Geena Gall, Katie Williams, and Kelley Sampson. The Wolverines claimed third behind Florida State and Princeton at Notre Dame, with Edwards, Kohlmeier, Tauro, Gall, and Sampson combining for a 49-sec 1-5 split over 5km. Michigan claimed third in the Pre-NCAA White race behind Florida State and Princeton with Edwards, Kohlmeier, Tauro, Gall, and Sampson splitting 72-sec over 6km. The Wolverines fell to fifth at the Big Ten meet behind Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Illinois; Tauro, Sampson, Morgan, Edwards, and Gall split 36-sec over 6km. Michigan rebounded to win the Great Lakes Regional; Edwards, Morgan, Tauro, Gall and Sampson split 57-sec over 6km to claim an auto berth.

9. Texas Tech

Two-time NCAA individual harrier champ Sally Kipyego led Texas Tech to 18th at last fall’s NCAA meet. Kipyego will attempt to become the first woman to win three NCAA D-1 harrier titles. Kipyego leads Gladys Kipsang, Chepleting Boit, Asia Diaz, Michelle Guzman, and Katherine Priebe back from the 2007 championships. The team is bolstered by the addition of the junior college runner-up Lilliam Badaru, a transfer from South Plains. The Raiders raced without Kipyego at Notre Dame and placed only 12th behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Stony Brook, Florida, Southern Methodist, Providence, Rice, New Mexico, Illinois, and Notre Dame; Badaru placed 4th overall to lead Kipsang, Diaz, Guzman, and Boit to a 1:38 split over 5km. Kipyego debuted at the Chili Pepper Festival to lead Texas Tech to a comfortable win over their hosts Arkansas; Kipyego won in a swift 19:27 over the established course, and combined with Badaru, Kipsang, Diaz, and Guzman for a 2:26 1-5 spread over 6km. Kipyego and Badaru finished 1-2 to lead the Raiders to their first Big 12 title; Kipyego and Badaru combined with Diaz, Guzman, and Kipsang for a 2:05 1-5 spread over 6km. Kipyego continued her winning ways with the Mountain Region title to lead Texas Tech to the team win; Kipyego combined with Badaru, Diaz, Kipsang, and Bolt for a 1:50 split over 6km.

10. Wisconsin

Wisconsin claimed 20th at last fall’s championships and return Hanna Grinaker (25th, 13th ’06), Gwen Jorgensen (83rd), Alica Pabich (152nd), Leah Coyle (175th), and Sarah Hurley (197th) from that squad. The Badgers placed fourth at Paul Short behind West Virginia, Villanova, and Baylor with Jorgensen, Grinaker, Caitlin Comfort, and Ashley Beutler, and Coyle splitting 61-sec over 6km. Wisconsin finished sixth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington, Villanova, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Florida; Jorgensen led Grinaker, Comfort, Beutler, and Coyle to a 78-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. Jorgensen claimed second at the Big Ten Championships to lead the Badgers to a surprise runner-up finish just behind Minnesota; Jorgensen combined with Grinaker, Comfort, Beutler, and Coyle for a 75-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. Wisconsin finished second to grab the second auto berth in the Great Lakes Regional behind Michigan; Jorgensen, Grinaker, Beutler, Comfort, and Coyle split 63-sec over 6km.

11. Arkansas

Arkansas placed 13th at the 2007 NCAA championships, returning Jillian Rosen, Christine Kalmer, Miranda Walker, Denise Bargiachi, Dacia Barr-Perkins, and Catherine White and adds newcomer Taylor Johnson. The Lady ‘Backs claimed second to Oregon at the 10/4 Dellinger Invite with White, Bargiachi, Jillian Rosen, Perkins, and Kalmer splitting 61-sec over 6km. Arkansas finished second to Texas Tech at the Chili Pepper Festival, with White, Bargiachi, Kalmer, Rosen, and Jackson splitting 74-sec over 6km. The Lady ‘Backs edged Florida for the loop title, with Whiting winning the SEC race to lead Bargiachi, Kalmer, Rosen, and Perkins to a 72-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. Arkansas won the South Regional and an auto berth; White, Bargiachi, Kalmer, Rosen, and Perkins split 25-sec over 6km.

12. Stanford

Three-time defending champion Stanford graduated four of their top seven from last year’s championship squad and gains former Virginia coach Jason Dunn following the retirement of Peter Tegen. Katie Harrington (40th), Alex Gits (53rd’ 13th World XC; 3rd NCAA 10,000) and Kate Niehaus (89th) return from the ’07 champs, but Alicia Follmar (149th ’06), Lindsay Flacks (56th ’06, 25th ‘05) were part of the 2006 championship squad. California prep champ Laurynne Chetelat (16th FL)and Foot Locker finalist Emilie Amaro (25th & 13th FL) lead the newcomers. The Cardinal easily won their own invite over a unimpressive field, with Chetelat, Follmar, Harrington, Griffin, and Amaro combining for a 36-sec 1-5 split over 6km. Stanford claimed seventh at the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington, Villanova, Minnesota, Michigan State, Florida, and Wisconsin; Chetelat, Harrington, Stephanie Marcy, Follomar, and Griffin split 33-sec over 6km. The Cardinal claimed third at Pac-10s behind Washington and Oregon and just ahead of Arizona State; Chetelat, Harrington, Amaro, Follmar, and Griffin split 21-sec, with Marcy and Gits just a couple ticks behind. Stanford claimed third at the West Region behind Washington and Oregon to secure an at large berth; Chetelat, Harrington, Follmar, Niehaus, and Griffin split 29-sec over 6km.

13. Michigan State

Michigan State finished 5th last fall at the NCAA harrier meet and returns six from that team, including Nicole Bush, Sarah Price, Lisa Senakewich, Emily MacLeod, Becky McCormack, and Ashley Casavant. Former UConn assistant Kim McGreevey assumes the women’s assistant position from Rita Arndt-Molis. Senakiewich, Bush, and Price finished 1-2-3 to lead the Spartans to an easy win over William & Mary at the Tribe Interregional, with that trio combining with newcomers Carlie Green (MI prep champ) and Tiffany Abrahamain for a 77-sec 1-5 spread over 6k. Michigan State placed fourth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington, Villanova, and Minnesota, with Bush, Senakiewich, Green, MacLeod, and Price splitting 71-sec over 6km. Bush won the Big Ten title to lead the Spartans to third behind Minnesota and Wisconsin; Bush combined with Senakiewich, McCormak, Langenberg, and MacLeod for a 95-sec 1-5 gap over 6km. Michigan Michigan State claimed third and an at large berth behind Michigan and Wisconsin; Bush won the regional and led Senakiewich, Langenberg, Green, and MacLeod to a 79-sec 1-5 split.

14. Illinois

Illinois finished fifth at last fall’s NCAA championships and returns Angela Bizzarri (14th), Katie Engel (58th), Danelle Woods (99th), Stephanie Baliga (121st), Theresa Brokaw (153rd), and Chantelle Groenewoud from that meet. Running without team star Bizzarri, the Illini tied New Mexico for ninth at Notre Dame behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Stony Brook, Florida, Southern Methodist, Providence, and Rice, with Engel, Sutherland, Brokaw, Groenewoud, and Boyle splitting 53-sec over 5km. Illinois tied Georgetown for fourth behind Florida State (and gets the nod on the NCAA tie-breaker), Princeton, and Michigan in the Pre-NCAA White race, with Engel, Bizzarri, Sutherland, Groenewoud, and Boyle combining for a 78-sec 1-5 gap over 6km. The Illini claimed fourth at the Big Ten Champs behind Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan State; Engel, Bizzarri, Sutherland, Brokaw, and Groenewoud split 71-sec over 6km. Illinois finished second to Minnesota at the Midwest Regional to grab an auto berth; Bizzarri seems to regaining her form with an individual runner-up finish to lead Engel, Groenewoud, Sutherland, and Boyle to a 58-sec 1-5 gap over 6km.

15. Arizona State

The Sun Devils claimed fourth at the 2007 NCAA harrier meet and return six from last year’s trophy winning squad. Returnees include Jenna Kingma (37th, 60th ’06, 42nd ’05), Ali Kielty (42nd), Kari Hardt (50th, 88th ’06), Camille Olson (51st), Krystal Duke (155th, 160th ’06), and Angela Spadafino (180th). All American transfers Sunni Olding (x Notre Dame; 34th ’05, 32nd ’04) and Haley Paul (ex Washington State; 14th ’05) joins ASU, as well as four-time Foot Locker finalist Kauren Tarver (10th FL, 7th ’06 FL, 5th ’05 FL, 16th ’04FL) and Nastia Bishton (14th FL). The Sun Devils grabbed second behind Minnesota at the Griak Invite, with Hardt winning to lead Kingma, Kielty, Paul and Spadafino to a 40-sec 1-5 gap. Arizona State claimed sixth in the Pre-NCAA White race behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Illinois & Georgetown; Kielty, Hardt, Kingma, Spadafino, and Prescott combined for a 58-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. The Sun Devils finished fourth at the Pac-10 meet behind perfect-scoring Washington, Oregon, and Stanford; Hardt & Kielty led Kingma, Paul, and Olson to a 55-sec 1-5 spread (Spadafino was just a tenth behind Olson). Arizona State placed fourth behind Washington, Oregon, and Stanford at the West Regional with Hardt, Kingma, Kielty, Paul, and Spadafino splitting 55-sec over 6km to secure an at large berth..

16. Florida

Florida surprised most observers with an 11th-place finish at the 2007 NCAA meet and returned Jacy Kruzel, Rebecca Lowe, Alison Babb, Ali Crabb, and Sara Petrick. The Gators placed fifth at Notre Dame behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, and Stony Brook, with Kruzel, Crabb, Genevieve Lacaze, Charlotte Browning, and Kaitlin Shiver splitting 26-sec over 5km. Florida claimed fifth at the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington, Villanova, Minnesota, and Michigan State, with Kruzel, Lacaze, Crabb, Browning, and Petrick combining for a 42-sec 1-5 gap over 6km. The Gators narrowly fell to Arkansas, with Crabb, LaCaze, Browning, Kruzel, and Northrup splitting 60-sec over 6km. Florida placed second to Florida State at the South Regional to advance to the NCAA Champs; LaCaze, Kruzel, Crabb, Browning, and Petrick split 62-sec over 6km.

17. Georgetown

Georgetown placed 28th at last fall’s NCAA meet and returns Maggie Infield, Lise Ogrondnick, Renee Tomlin, and Lauren Gregory from that squad. The Hoyas tied Illinois for fourth behind Florida State, Princeton, and Michigan in the Pre-NCAA White race, with Liz Maloy, Natasha Labeaud, Infeld, Katie McCafferty, and Ogrodnick splitting 50-sec over 6km. Georgetown finished third behind Villanova and West Virginia at the Big East champs, with McCafferty, Labeaud, Malor, Infield, and Tomlin splitting 41-sec over 6km. The Hoyas finished fourth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional behind Princeton & West Virginia and Villanova; Maloy, Infeld, Labeaud, Ogrodnick, and McCafferty split 54-sec over 6km.

18. Baylor

Baylor finished 17th at the 2007 NCAA championships; with Nichole Jones (43rd), Danielle Bradley, Renae Van Wyhe, Katie Shaw, and Jessi Barnes returning.. The Bears claimed third at Paul Short behind West Virginia and Villanova, led by a resurgent Erin Bedell and Nichole Jones who combined with Bradley, Barnes, and Van Wyhe for a 73-sec 1-5 gap over 6k. Baylor placed seventh behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Illinois, Georgetown, and Arizona State; Bedell led Bradley, Jones, Barnes, and Van Wyhe to a 79-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. Bedell claimed an individual third at the Big 12 meet to lead Baylor to a silver medal behind Texas Tech; Bedell, Jones, Bradley, Shaw, and Van Wyhe posted a 70-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. The Bears finished the South Regional tied with Rice for second but were edged 2-3 on the tie-breaker with the Owls; Baylor received an at-large berth with Bedell, Jones, Bradley, Barnes, and Hulett splitting 80-sec over 6km.

19. Rice

Rice finished 16th at the 2007 NCAA harrier meet. Becky Wade, Allison Pye, Nicole Mericle, Britany Williams, and Lennie Waite return from the ’07 championships. The Owls placed eighth at the Notre Dame invite behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Stony Brook, Florida, Southern Methodist, and Providence, with Waite, Mericle, Pye, Williams, John spitting 82-sec over 5km. Rice finished eighth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington, Villanova, Minnesota, Michigan State, Florida, Wisconsin, and Stanford with Mericle, Waite, Pye, Williams, and Wade split 94-sec over 6km. The Owls claimed runner-up honors behind SMU at Conference USA; Mericle, Waite, Pye, Williams, and John combined for a 77-sec 1-5 split over 5km. Rice tied Baylor for second at the South Regional and won the tie-breaker 3-2 to earn the second auto berth; Mericle won the regional to lead Pye, Waite, Williams, and Wade to an 83-sec 1-5 split.

20. Providence

Providence finished 26th at last year’s NCAA championships. Returning from that squad are Danette Doetzel, Katie Dicamillo, Krystal Douglas (130th), Breffini Twohig (146th), Sarah Morgan (205th), and Emma Perron (214th). Newcomers include Mary Kate Champagne (30th FL), Hannah Davidson (4th NTN), and Suzanne Huet (Irish 5000 NJR in 2007 of 16:48.17). The Friars placed seventh at Notre Dame behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Stony Brook, Florida, and Southern Methodist, with Doetzel finishing 33-sec ahead of her teammate DiCamillo, with Davidson, Perron, and Twohig combining to split 49-sec over 5km. Providence finished 11th at the Pre-NCAA Blue Race behind Washington, Villanova, Minnesota, Michigan State, Florida, Wisconsin, Stanford, Rice, Iowa, and New Mexico; Doetzel finished tenth individuall and combined with Douglas, Twohig, Davidson, and DiCamillo for a 79-sec 1-5 spread over 6km. The Friars claimed 4th at the Big East Championships behind Villanova, West Virginia, and Georgetown; Doetzel, Douglas, DiCamillo, Twohig, and Champagne split 56-sec over 6km (Davidson was 1 sec behind Champagne). Providence then stepped up to comfortably win the Northeast Regional; Doetzel won individually and combined with DiCamillo, Douglas, Champagne, and Davidson for a 65-sec 1-5 spread over 6km.

21. New Mexico

New Mexico claimed sixth in the ’07 Mountain region. The Lobos claimed third behind Minnesota and Arizona State at Griak, with Michelle Corrigan, Carolyn Boosey, Nicky Archer, Lacey Oeding, and Ashley Gibson splitting 42-sec over 6km. New Mexico tied Illinois for ninth at Notre Dame behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Stony Brook, Florida, Southern Methodist, Providence, and Rice, with Archer, Boosey, Oeding, Corrigan, and Gibson splitting 32-sec over 5km. The Lobos claimed 10th in the Pre-NCAA Blue Race behind Washington, Villanova, Minnesota, Michigan State, Florida, Wisconsin, Stanford, Rice, and Iowa; Archer, Corrigan, Oeding, Boosey, and Luna split 60-sec over 6km. New Mexico won the Mountain West Champs with Oeding, Boosey, Archer, Luna, and Corrigan splitting 30-sec over 6km. The Lobos claimed second and the second auto berth at the Mountain Regional; Corrigan, Oeding, Archer, Boosey, and Luna split a tight 23.7-sec over 6km.

22. Nebraska

Nebraska claimed fourth at the 2007 Midwest regional. The Huskers placed second to Minnesota at the South Dakota State Classic, with Lara Crofford winning the race and leading Carrizales, and Pancoast. Nebraska finished ninth in the Pre-Nationals White race behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Illinois, Georgetown, Arizona State, Baylor, and Stony Brook; Crofford, Carrizales, Pancoast, Zarcenko, and Webers combined for a 91-sec 1-5 spilt over 6km. The Huskers finished third at the Big 12 meet behind Texas Tech and Baylor; Crofford, Carrizales, Callahan, Pancoast, and Webers split 65-sec over 6km. Nebraska finished third in the Midwest behind Minnesota and Illinois with Crofford, Carrizales, Callahan, Pancoast, and Miller splitting 45-sec over 6km.

23. Iowa

Iowa finished tenth at the 2007 NCAA championships, returning Jolly Burke, Lauren Hardesty, and Amanda Hardesty. Newcomer Brooke Eilers joined the squad. The Hawkeyes placed third at Auburn behind Washington and Oregon State, with Marchand combining with Perry, Eilers, Flood, and Hardsty for an 81-sec 1-5 spread over 5k. Iowa claimed ninth at the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Washington, Villanova, Minnesota, Michigan State, Florida, Wisconsin, Stanford, and Rice; Marchand, Eilers, Perry, Flood, and Hardesty combined for a 97-sec 1-5 split over 6km. The Hawkeyes finished sixth at the Big Ten meet behind Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Illinois, and Michigan; Marchand, Perry, Eilers, Flood, Roeder split 1:51 over 6km. Iowa finished fourth behind Minnesota, Illinois, and Nebraska at the Midwest regional to secure an at large berth; Marchand, Perry, Eilers, Roeder, and Flood split 34-sec over 6km.

24. Southern Methodist

SMU placed seventh at the ’07 South Central Regional. The Mustangs finished sixth at Notre Dame behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Stony Brook, and Florida, with Fjortoft, Forish, Korra, Hardwick, and Simmons splitting 65-sec over 5km. SMU claimed third at Chili Pepper behind Texas Tech and Arkansas, with Fjortoft, Forish, Korra, Hardwick, and Anderson splitting 1:46 over 6km. The Mustangs won the Conference USA meet; Fjortoft, Forish, Kora, Hardwick, and Simmons combined for a 56-sec 1-5 gap over 5km. SMU claimed fourth behind Arkansas, Rice & Baylor and earned an at large berth to NCAAs; Forish, Fjortoft, Hardwick, Korra, and Simmons combined for a 54-sec 1-5 gap.

25. Syracuse

Syracuse claimed fourth at the 2008 Northeast regional. The Orange finished fifth at Paul Short behind West Virginia, Villanova, Baylor, and Wisconsin; Maegan Krifchin, Nana Sang-Bender, Heather Stephens, Lauren Penney, and Catherine Desarle combined for a 34-sec split over 6km. Syracuse placed 11th in the Pre-NCAA white race with Sang-Bender, Krifchin, Stephens, Desarle, and Rebekah MacKay split 31-sec over 6km. The Orange grabbed fifth at the Big East Meet behind Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown, and Providence, with Sang-Bender, Krifchin, Stephens, Penny, and Desarle combining for a 46-sec gap over 6km. Syracuse surprised for second place behind Providence at the Northeast Regional with Sang-Bender, Krifchin, Penny, MacKay, and MacFawn splitting 49-sec over 6km.

26. Northern Arizona

Northern Arizona placed seventh at last fall’s NCAA meet. Ilsa Paulson, Amanda Boyd, Amanda Griggs, Astrid Leutert, Nell Rojas, and Kelsy Hardt return from the NCAA meet. The Lumberjacks won the Cowboy Jamboree, with Veronica Pohl, Leurert, Rojas, Lawrence, and Hancock splitting 70-sec over 6km. Northern Arizona finished tenth in the Pre-Nationals White race behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Illinois, Georgetown, Arizona State, Baylor, Stony Brook, and Nebraska with Pohl, Leutert, Rojas, Lawrence, and Burton combining for a 94-sec 1-5 gap over 6km. The Lumberjacks won the Big Sky championships with Pohl, Leutert, Rojas, Lawrence, and Burton splitting 40-sec over 5km. Northern Arizona claimed third and an at large berth behind Texas Tech and New Mexico; Pohl, Leutert, Rojas, Lawrence, and Burton split 63-sec over 6km.

27. Boston College

Boston College claimed 30th at the 2008 NCAA Champs, returning Brielle Chabot, Nicole Lister, Mallory Champa, Jessica Driscoll, and Caroline King from that squad. The Eagles placed fifth at the Chile Pepper Festival behind Texas Tech, Arkansas, SMU, and Virginia Tech. BC finished second at the ACC meet behind Florida State; Champa, Lister, Chabot, Driscoll, and Johnston split 29-sec over 6km. The Eagles finished third behind PC and Syracuse at the Northeast Regional with Champa, Lister, Driscoll, King, and Heitkamp splitting 67-sec over 6km.

28. Virginia

Virginia placed sixth at the 2008 NCAA Southeast Regional. The Cavaliers grabbed 23rd in the Pre-NCAA White Race. Virginia finished fifth at the ACC Champs behind Florida State, Boston College, Wake Forest, and Duke. The Cavaliers won the Southeast Regional, with Dezubay, Gay, Garcia, Stafford, and Brooks split 80-sec over 6km.

29. Stony Brook

Stony Brook placed 31st at the 2007 NCAA champs in their first ever team appearance, with Jessica Hampson, Holly Van Dalen, Laura Huet, and Lucy Van Dalen returning from that squad. The Seawolves claimed fourth at Notre Dame behind Florida State, Princeton, and Michigan, with H. Van Dalen, L. Van Dalen, and Hampson finishing within a second and leading Haley Green and Huet to a 27-sec 1-5 split over 5km. Stony Brook finished eighth in the Pre-Nationals White race behind Florida State, Princeton, Michigan, Illinois, Georgetown, Arizona State, and Baylor; H. Van Dalen, Hampson, L. Van Dalen, Green, and Huet split 28 sec over 6km. The Seawolves dominated the America East Champs with H. Van Dalen, Huet, L. Van Dalen, Green, and Cortes splitting 51-sec over 6km. Stony Brook fell to fourth at the Northeast Regional behind PC, Syracuse, and Boston College with H. Van Dalen, L. Van Dalen, Green, Huet, and Hampson splitting 44-sec over 6km.

30. Notre Dame

Notre Dame finished eleventh at the 2008 Great Lakes Regional. The Irish placed thirteenth in the Pre-NCAA White Race. Notre Dame finished fifth at the Big East meet behind Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown, Providence, and Syracuse, with Ferguson, Treece, Velarde, Higgins, and Rocha combining for a 54-sec gap over 6km. The Irish claimed fourth and at large berth behind Michigan, Wisconsin, and Michigan State at the Great Lakes Regionals; Ferguson, Treece, Rocha, Velarde, and Tacl split 38-sec over 6km.

--. Kentucky

Kentucky claimed fourth at the 2008 NCAA Southeast Regional. The Wildcats grabbed sixth at the Penn State Nationals behind West Virginia, Penn State, Wake Forest, Duke, and Tennessee. Kentucky finished sixth at the SEC Champs behind Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and Auburn. The Wildcats finished second to Virginia at the Southeast Regional to claim the second auto berth; Jessica Ortman, Jenna Ortman, Petersen, Halasek, and Petri split 57-sec over 6km.