Analysis of the 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll

by Mike Scott,

University of Rhode Island

Updated: 29 October

 

For the 12th 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 2008 NCAA D-1 XC Championships at Indiana State University, unless otherwise noted.  Performances are from the 2008-09 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

 

1.  WASHINGTON

The Huskies won the 2008 NCAA team title – their first – by 52 points and return Christine Babcock, Kendra Schaaf, Mel Lawrence, Katie Follett, and Lauren Saylor from that squad.  Washington simply dominated the Notre Dame Invitation, with Schaaf winning and leading Follett, Lawrence, and Babcock to a 1-2-3-4 finish; Saylor placed 23rd ,to give the Dawgs a 41-sec 1-5 spread over 5km while Linnell was 29th and Flanagan 30th.  The Huskies, running without Lawrence and Saylor, won the Pre-NCAA White race by 30 points over Florida, with Schaaf, Follett, Babcock, Campbell, and Linnell splitting 55-sec over 6km.

 

2.  VILLANOVA

The Wildcats claimed sixth at the 2008 NCAA meet, returning Amanda Marino, Bogdana Mimic, Kaitlyn Tallman, Callie Hogan, Sarah Morrison, and Allison Smith from that squad.  Villanova downed Oregon to win the Dellinger Invite, with Sheila Reid winning the race and leading Marino, Schappert, Mimic, and Tallman to a 27-sec 1-5 gap over 5km.  The Wildcats won the Panorama Farms Invite, with Reid, Shappert, Marino, and Mimic finishing 1-2-3-4 and combining with Tallman to split 27-sec over 6km.

 

3.  COLORADO

Although the Buffalos failed to qualify for the 2008 NCAA championships, they return with a vengeance in 2009.  Olympian Jenny Barringer, who finished fifth this past summer at the World Championships in the steeplechase, has dominated this fall and appears on course to win her first NCAA harrier title, while newcomer Allie McLaughlin finished fifth at Foot Locker and fourth at USA Junior XC.  CU dominated their Rocky Mountain Shootout, with Barringer breaking Kara Goucher’s course record and McLaughlin notching the eighth fastest in history; the duo combined with Coburn, Hanenburg, and Sawyer to split 2:13 over 5.8k.  Barringer dominated the Pre-NCAA Blue race to lead the Buffs to an easy win; Barringer combined with McLaughlin, Tremblay, Thweatt, and Coburn for a 90-sec 1-5 spread over 6km.

 

4.  WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers finished fourth at the 2008 NCAA meet and return all seven members from that squad:  Keri Bland, Marie-Louise Asselin, Clara Grandt, Kate Harrison, Kaylyn Christopher, Jessica O’Connell, and Ahna Lewis; they gain Canadian newcomer Sarah-Anne Brault (16:42 5k).  West Virginia won the Paul Short Invite, with O’Connell, Brault, Harrison, Christopher, and Hamric splitting 62-sec over 6km.  The Mountaineers won the Penn State National meet, with Bland leading Asselin, Grandt, Brault, and Christopher to a 40-sec 1-5 split over 6km.

5.  FLORIDA

The Gators placed seventeenth in 2008 and return Genevieve Lacase, Charlotte Browning, Ali Crabb, Kaitlin Shiver, and Julie Northrup.  Florida placed third at Notre Dame behind Washington and Princeton, with Johnson, Browning, Lowe, Lacaze, and Northrup splitting 40-sec over 5km.  The Gators finished surprisingly close to Washington in the Pre-NCAA White race, with Johnson, Lowe, Browning, Lacaze, and Northrup splitting 31-sec over 6km.

6.  FLORIDA STATE

The Seminoles claimed third at the 2008 NCAA championships and return Susan Kuijken, Pilar McShine, Linzi Snow, Christina Woytalewicz, and Kacey Gibson, as well as gain the services of Pasca Cheruiyot 16:26 5k), an individual NCAA qualifier from Missouri State.  Running without Kuijken, Florida State placed seventh at Notre Dame behind Washington, Princeton, Florida, Penn State, Arizona State, and New Mexico with McShine, Parry, Cheruiyot, Quick, and Winslow splitting 27-sec over 5km.  The Seminoles finished second to Colorado in the Pre-NCAA Blue race; Kuijken placed second overall to lead Cheruiyot, McShine, Dunn, and Winslow to a 89-sec 1-5 gap over 6km.

7.  PRINCETON

The Tigers placed fifth in 2008 and return Lez Costello, Alex Banfich, Reilly Kiernan, Sarah Cummings, and Alexa Glencer from that squad.  Princeton claimed second behind Washington at the Notre Dame Invite, with Costello, Banfinch, Cummins, Kiernan, and Higginson splitting 32-sec over 5km.  Princeton finished third behind Washington and Florida in the Pre-NCAA White race, with Costello, Cummings, Higginson, Kiernan, and Banfich splitting 47-sec over 6km.

8.  OREGON

The Ducks earned runner-up honors in 2008 and return Alex Kosinski, Nicole Blood, Zoe Buckman, and Bria Wetsch.  Two-time Foot Locker cross country champ Jordan Hasey leads the Duck newcomers.   Oregon fell to Villanova at their own Dellinger Invite, with Kosinski claiming second to lead Hasay, Zaludek, Michel, and Blood to a 44-sec 1-5 spread.  Frosh Hasey grabbed third in the Pre-NCAA Blue race to lead the Ducks to third behind Colorado and Florida State; Hasey, Blood, Michel, Crossman, and Kosinski split 81-sec for 6km.

9.  GEORGETOWN

The Hoyas claimed ninth in 2008, returning Emily Infield, Katie McCafferty, Renee Tomlin, and Lauren Gregory and gained Emily Jones (13th FL) and Meaghan Gregory.  Georgetown finished second to UVa at the Mason Invite, with Infield, Jones, Gregory, LaBeaud, and Kasper splitting 60-sec over 6km.  The Hoyas placed fourth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Colorado, Florida State, and Oregon, with Infeld, Jones, Labeaud, McCafferty, and Kasper splitting 69-sec over 6km.

10.  SYRACUSE

The Orange placed twenty-eighth in 2008, returning Catherine Desarle, Maegan Krifchin, Lauren Penny, Lauryn MacFawn, Rebekah MacKay, and Heather Stephens.  Syracuse claimed second a mere 2 points behind Duke at the Wisconsin Invite, with Hursey, Desarle, Penny, Krifchin, and Stephens splitting 23-seconds.  The Orange claimed fourth in the Pre-NCAA White race behind Washington Florida, and Princeton, with Hursey, MacKay, Krifchin, Penny, and Desarle splitting 28-sec over 6km.

11.  VIRGINIA

The Cavaliers finished twenty-sixth in 2008, returning Morgane Gay, Stephanie Garcia, Samantha Stafford, Sara Casscells, Lyndsay Harper, and Susan Brooks.  UVa won the Mason Invitation, with White, Gay, Garcia, Strehler, and Zarger spitting 87-sec over 6km.  The Cavaliers placed second to Villanova at the Panorama Farms, with White, Gay, Dezubay, Garcia, and Strehler splitting 34-sec over 6km.

12.  STANFORD

The Cardinal claimed eighth in 2008 and return Laurynne Chetlat, Kate Niehaus, Stephanie Marcy, Georgia Griffin, and Emilie Amaro, while gaining Alex Dunne (19th FL, 3rd USA junior).  Stanford won their own invitational, with Kroeger, Niehaus, Dunne, Gits, and Marcy splitting 18-sec over 6km.  The Cardinal placed fifth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Colorado, Florida State, Oregon, and Georgetown; Gits, Marcy, Dunne, O’Meara, and Griffin split 55-sec over 6km.

13.  ILLINOIS

The Illini placed tenth in 2008, with NCAA 5000 champ Angela Bizzarri leading Kristin Sutherland, Chantelle Groenewoud, Elizabeth Boyle, Theresa Brokaw, and Stephanie Baliga back from that squad.  Illinois claimed third behind Duke and Syracuse at the Wisconsin Invitational, with Bizzarri finishing second to lead Sutherland, Boyle, Groenwoud, and Thompson to a 68-second 1-5 gap.  Bizzarri won the Pre-NCAA White race in the final 400m to lead her Illini teammates to fifth behind Washington Florida, Princeton, and Syracuse, with Sutherland, Boyle, Groenewoud, and Brusa splitting 2:00 over 6km behind Bazzarri.

14.  TEXAS TECH

Despite graduating three-time NCAA harrier champ Salley Kipyego, the ’08 seventh-place Red Raiders return a formidable squad including Lillian Badaru, Gladys Kipsang, Michelle Guzman, and Addison Lemaster.  Texas Tech won the Chile Pepper Festival, with Badaru and Biwott finishing 1-3 to lead C. Karunde, Kipsang, and W. Karunde to a 69-sec 1-5 spread over 6km.

15.  MINNESOTA

The Gophers placed 12th at the 2008 NCAA meet, returning Megan Duwell, Amy Laskkowske, Mallory Van Ness, Heather Dorniden, and Jamie Cheever.  Minnesota claimed second behind Iowa State at their own Griak Invite, with Duwell’s win leading Swenson, Yetzer, Laskowske, and Wagner to a 67-sec 1-5 gap.  The Gophers grabbed sixth in the Pre-NCAA White race behind Washington, Florida, Princeton, Syracuse, and Illinois, with Duwell leading Price, Yetzer, Wagner, and Swenson to a 71-sec split over 6km.

16.  DUKE

The Blue Devils finished fourth at the 2008 NCAA Southeast Regional, but didn’t advance to the show; they gained Foot Locker runner-up Ashley Brasovan.  Duke won the Wisconsin Invite, with Seymour, Ahn, Morgan, Ziemian, and Johnston splitting 31-sec over 5km.  Seymour won the Blue Ridge Open to lead the Blue Devils to the win over Virginia Tech; Seymour, Johnston, Schwitzer, Morgan, and Vermeer split 38-sec over 5km.

17.  ARIZONA

The Wildcats claimed eighth at the 2008 NCAA West Regionals.  Arizona placed eleventh at Notre Dame behind Washington, Princeton, Florida, Penn State, Arizona State, New Mexico, Florida State, SMU, Providence, and Notre Dame; Callahan, Smith, Jackson, Henson, and Bergman split 47-sec over 5km.  The Wildcats finished sixth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Colorado, Florida State, Oregon, Georgetown, and Stanford; Callahan, Smith, Jackson, Henson, and Apgar split 40-sec over 6km.

18.  PENN STATE

The Nittany Lions placed fifth at the 2008 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, while Bridget Franek earned All-American honors with her 23rd place effort in Terre Haute.  Penn State finished fourth at Notre Dame behind Washington, Princeton, and Florida, with Franek, Spring, Lord, Ridder, and Lane splitting 42-sec over 5km.  The Lions finished second to West Virginia at the Penn State National, with Franek finishing third overall to lead Spring, Lord, Lane, and Ridder to a 49-sec 1-5 spread.

19.  IOWA STATE

2008 NCAA 10,000 champ Lisa Koll leads the Cyclones, who finished ninth at the Midwest Regionals when Koll redshirted.  Iowa State won the Griak Invite with Koll finishing second to lead Saina, Tuliamuk, Tesfaye, and Kemmy to a 46-sec 1-5 spilt.  The Cyclones claimed seventh in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Colorado, Florida State, Oregon, Georgetown, Stanford, and Arizona; Koll, Saina, Kemmey, Tuliamuk, and Nelson split 70-secs for 6km.

20.  NEW MEXICO

The Lobos placed 18th in 2008 and return Nicky Archer, Lacey Oeding, Ashley Gibson, and Emma Reed.  New Mexico placed sixth at Notre Dame behind Washington, Princeton, Florida, Penn State, and Arizona State, with Senior, Archer, Gibson, Oeding, and Mitsos splitting 48-sec over 5km.  The Lobos claimed seventh in the Pre-NCAA White race behind Washington, Florida, Princeton, Syracuse, Illinois, and Minnesota, with Senior, Oeding, Archer, Gibson, and James splitting 28-sec over 6km.

21.  BRIGHAM YOUNG

The Cougars only finished fifth at the 2008 Mountain Regionals.  BYU claimed fourth at the Wisconsin Invite behind Duke, Syracuse, and Illinois, with Lemmon winning to lead Andrews, Edwards, Wagner, and Cramer to a 53-sec 1-5 spread over 5km.  The Cougars finished second to Texas Tech at the Chile Pepper Festival, with Lew, Wagner, Edwards, Nielsen, and Lange splitting  76-sec over 6km.

22.  MICHIGAN

The Wolverines placed 16th at the 2008 meet and return Danielle Tauro, Kelly Sampson, Jennifer Morgan, and Katie Williams.  Michigan finished fifth at the Wisconsin Invite behind Duke, Syracuse, Illinois, and BYU with Peale, Patterson, Addison, Smith, and Morgan splitting 55-sec over 5km.  The Wolverines missed out on the Penn State National Invite following inclement weather, so the team raced the following weekend at the EMU Classic, with Peale, Patterson, Addison, Severin, and Hilton split 64-sec over 5km.

23.  IOWA

The Hawkeyes placed twenty-fourth in 2008 and returns Hannah Roeder, Brooke Eilers, Betsey Floody, Amanda Hardesty, and Fionna Fallon.  Iowa finished sixth at the Wisconsin Invite behind Duke, Syracuse, Illinois, BYU, and Michigan, with Eilers, Lessard, Flood, L. Hardesty, and A. Hardesty splitting 28-sec over 5km.  The Hawkeyes claimed eighth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Colorado, Florida State, Oregon, Georgetown, Stanford, Arizona, and Iowa State, with Eilers, Flood, Hardesty, Roeder, and Lessard splitting 36-sec for 6km.

24.  PROVIDENCE

The Friars placed thirteenth at the 2008 NCAA champs, returning Krystal Douglas, Mary Kate Champagne, Hannah Davidson, and Breffini Twohig and gaining Shelby Greaney, 7th Foot Locker.  Providence tied SMU for eighth at Notre Dame behind Washington, Princeton, Florida, Penn State, Arizona State, New Mexico, and Florida State; Davidson, Greany, Twohig, Roecker, and Perron split 18-sec over 5km.  The Friars finished third behind West Virginia and Penn State at the Penn State National, with Greany, Davidson, Perron, Twohi, and Douglas splitting 40-sec over 6km.

25.  UTEP

The Miners placed twelfth in the Mountain Region in 2008.  UTEP finished fourth at the Dellinger Invite behind Villanova, Oregon, and Baylor, with Kimaiyo, Kigen, Garcia, Chumba, and K. Garcia splitting 52-sec over 5km.  The Miners claimed ninth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race behind Colorado, Florida State, Oregon,  Georgetown, Stanford, Arizona, Iowa State, and Iowa, with Kimaiyo, Garcia, Kigen, Chumba, and Garcia splitting 94-sec over 6km.

26.  BAYLOR

The Bears claimed nineteenth in 2008 and return Erin Bedell, Nichole Jones, Danielle Bradley, Renae Van Wyhe, and Leigh Anne Ganzar; BU also gains Stephanie Morgan, a 4:45/10:35 prep from Ohio..  Baylor finished third at Dellinger behind Villanova and Oregon, with Jones, Bedell, Morgan, Bradley, and Westenhover splitting 35-sec over 5km.  Baylor was unable to score as a team in the Pre-NCAA White race, but Bedell claimed 11th and Jones 42nd.

27.  MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans placed eleventh in 2008 and return Emily MacLoed, Emily Lengenberg, Carlie Green, and Becky McCormack.  Michigan State placed third at Griak behind Iowa State and Minnesota; MacLeod, Green, Smeltzer, Abrahamian, and Huprikar split 72-sec over 6km.  The Spartans claimed tenth in the Pre-NCAA Blue race, with MacLeod, Green, Abrahamian, Smeltzer, and Haines splitting 76-sec over 6km.

28.  NORTH CAROLINA

The Tar Heels claimed third at the 2008 NCAA Southeast Regional but failed to advance to Terre Haute as a team; Lauren Holsesh finished 30th individually to earn All-American honors.  North Carolina placed twelfth at Notre Dame behind Washington, Princeton, Florida, Penn State, Arizona State, New Mexico, Florida State, SMU, Providence, Notre Dame, and Arizona; Holesh, Verplank, Lucena, Fike, and Lutz split 80-sec over 5km.  The Tar Heels finished eighth in the Pre-NCAA White race behind Washington, Florida, Princeton, Syracuse, Illinois, Minnesota, and New Mexico, with Holesh, Verplank, Lucena, Fike, and Hayes splitting 90-sec over 6km.

29.  ARKANSAS

The Lady ‘Backs claimed 15th in 2008 and return Catherine White, Jillian Rosen, Megan Jackson, and Samantha Learch.  Arkansas placed seventh at the Wisconsin Invite behind Duke, Syracuse, Illinois, BYU, Michigan, and Iowa, with Walker, Allison, Jackson, Gillespie, and Learch splitting 21-sec over 5km.  The Lady ‘Backs finished third at their own Chile Pepper Festival, with Walker, Gillespie, Learch, Johnson, and Allison splitting 35-sec over 6km.

30.  NOTRE DAME

The Irish placed twenty-ninth in 2008, returning Lindsey Ferguson, Marissa Treece, Rachel Velarde, Abby Higgins, and Beth Tacl.  Notre Dame placed tenth at home behind Washington, Princeton, Florida, Penn State, Arizona State, New Mexico, Florida State, SMU, and Providence; Ferguson, Treece, Shiver, Watson, and Tacl split 40-sec over 5km.  The Irish claimed ninth in the Pre-NCAA White race behind Washington, Florida, Princeton, Syracuse, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Caroline; Ferguson led Treece, Watson, Velarde, and Tracy to a 65-sec 1-5 spread over 6km.