Analysis of the 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
by Mike Scott,
University of Rhode Island
Updated: September 22
For the 7th consecutive year, I am analyzing the Women's Division I Coaches' Poll.
Teams are listed according to their ranking in the current edition of the
FinishLynx/NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL POLL, as conducted by the
Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches' Association.
Here are the Top 5 Teams; the complete version of the analysis is listed at:
http://miscott.home.att.net/wxcanal/
Notes: Places listed in parentheses refer to finish at the 2002 NCAA D-1 XC
Championships at Indiana State University, unless otherwise noted. Performances are
from the 2002-03 year, unless otherwise noted. Performances at the Foot Locker High
School Cross Country Championships are denoted by "FL".
As always, I appreciate additions, corrections, and updates. Please send them to me
at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Next Weekend: The September 26-27 weekend marks the kick-off of the serious cross
country season.
Great American (9/26) -- Brigham Young, Campbell, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Florida
State, Grand Valley State, Liberty, North Carolina State, Northernn Arizona, Texas A &
M, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Carolina - Charlotte, Virginia, US Military
Academy, William and Mary
Roy Griak (9/27) -- Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Boston College, Colorado State,
Columbia, Indiana, Iowa State, Marquette, Michigan, Michigaan State, Minnesota,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Penn State, Providence,
Southern Utah, Texas Tech, Toledo, Utah State, Wake Forest, Wartburg (IA), Washington
State, Weber State
Stanford (9/27) -- 4K & 6K races: Arkansas, Cal-Santa Barbara, Stanford, UCLA,
Wisconsin
Iona Meet of Champions (9/27) -- Auburn, Boston U, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Rhode
Island, Yale
TOP THIRTY TEAMS:
1. Brigham Young
Patrick Shane's defending champion BYU Cougars have now won 4 of the last six NCAA
team titles ('97, '99, '01, '02), including the last two crowns. NCAA steeplechase
champs Michaela Mannova ('02) and Kassi Andersen ('03) return to lead the Cougars.
Mannova, who finished 5th in both the '01 and '02 NCAA harrier races, redshirted the
outdoor season but notched a swift 9:42.01 steeple while winning silver at this
summer's Euro under-23 meet. In her absence, '02 USA Junior 1500 champ Andersen (7th)
ran away with the steeple title in an NCAA meet record 9:44.95 before claiming silver
at the USA championships. Also returning for BYU are Breanne Sandberg (41st), Lisa
Antonelli (10:14.37s/c), Shalice Pugmire (10:32.88s/c), as well as a possible key for
the Cougars' hopes of a three-peat: former two-time cross country All-American Laura
Turner (26th '99, 31st '98) who served on an LDS mission in 2000 and 2001. Foot
Locker finalists Ruth Graham (12th FL) and Amber Harper (13th FL) could help bolster
the Cougars' lineup.
BYU opened by running a "B" squad (BYU's website stated that they held out the top 5
or 6 runners) at the BYU Alumni Inv, where they 1-2-3-4-5'd the field with Antonelli,
Suzanna Larsen, and Breanne Sandberg finishing together. Breane Sandberg won the 9/13
BYU Autumn Classic to lead a mostly "B" squad to an easy team win over cross state
rival Weber State. Sandberg, Larsen, Rena Williams, Antonelli, and Jami Caldwell
scored for the Cougars. BYU ran completely different "B" squad in Hawaii and fell to
UCLA; of note for the Cougars were seasonal debuts for Michaela Mannova's (easy win)
and Foot Locker finalist Amber Harper's (a bit back in 10th).
Meets: 9/26 Great American, 10/10 AzSt, 10/17 Pre-NCAA, 11/1 Mountain West Conf (San
Diego), 11/15 Mountain Reg (Ft Collins, CO)
Returnees: Michaela Mannova (5th, 5th '01, 148th '00; 9:42.01s/c; '02 steeplechase
champ), Kassi Andersen (7th; 2:08.10, 4:18.04 '01, 9:44.95s/c, '03 steeplechase champ,
2nd USA s/c, 1st '02 USA Jr 1500), Breanne Sandberg (41st; 16:22.59), Shalice Pugmire
(10:32.88s/c), Aneta Lemiesz (2:05.30), Lisa Antonelli (10:14.37s/c), Laura Turner
(26th '99, 31st '98; 16:38.67)
Newcomer: Ruth Graham (12th FL; 10:02.7 3k, 10:46.87y); Amber Harper (13th FL;
4:37.95, 9:54.44 3k); Julie Cameron (2:12.83, 5:10.45i), Whitney McDonald (CA)
2. Stanford
Despite the loss of 3-time NCAA 5k champion Lauren Fleshman and mile standout Malindi
Elmore as well as a coaching change, the Cardinal appears to be set for another run at
the NCAA harrier crown. Following the departure of Stanford mentor Vin Lannana for
greener pastures (well, at least Ohio), former All-American Dena Evans was promoted to
Head Women's Coach. NCAA 10k champ Alicia Craig finished 3rd in Terre Haute last fall
and will lead Stanford this fall and should be joined up front by teammate Sara Bei
(57th). Jeane Goff and Anita Siraki round out the NCAA returnees for the Cardinal.
Coach Evans scored big with this year's recruiting class, nailing down one of the
fastest prep milers of all time Ari Lambie -- who also won the ever-competitive Foot
Locker NE regional before succumbing to illness at the FL finals -- along with the
ttalented Trotter twins -- Kathleen (2nd at Foot Locker championships) and Amanda.
Stanford dominated its season opener at the 8/30 Bronco Invite with Sara Bei, Katy
Trotter, Jeane Goff, and Amanda Trotter all finishing together in the top four spots;
Craig and Lambie didn't appear at the opener.
Meets: 9/27 Stanford Inv, 10/4 Murray Keating, 10/18 Pre-NCAAs, 11/1 Pac-10
(Pullman), 11/15 West Reg (Portland)
Returnees: Alicia Craig (3rd, 28th '01; 15:25.75, 32:40.03, NCAA 10k Champ), Sara Bei
(57th, 89th '01; '00 FL Champ; 16:03.08; 13th out 5k; USA Jr '01 3k champ), Jeane Goff
(128th, 4:26, 10:23.08s/c), Anita Siraki (110th, 2nd '00 FL' 9:47i); Kristen Cohoon
(10:04.77; 17:08), Yfa Kretzschmar (2:10.05, 5:01.95y);
Newcomers: Ari Lambie (22nd FL, 1st FL NE; 2:45.46NR, 4:20.2, 4:37.23y, 10:11.9y),
Kathleen Trotter (2nd FL, 2:11.32, 4:50.32y, 10:30.47y, ) Amanda Trotter (2:11.37,
4:54.43y, 10:32.11y), Teresa McWalters, Julie Allen (11th '01 FL; 4:59.27y, 10:37.75y),
3. Notre Dame
The Irish came through big-time at the NCAA championships to claim 3rd behind the
leadership of Molly Huddle (6th as a frosh!) and 2-time Cross Country All-American
Lauren King (19th). Loryn King (76th), Stephanie Madia (78th), and Katie Wales
(225th) also return from the '02 NCAA meet, while Megan Johnson is back after a
redshirt year. Notre Dame opened by running a mostly "B" squad at the Valparaiso Inv,
which won behind Jean Marinangeli's individual win. The Irish also won the 9/19
National Catholic Inv with a "B" squad, with newcomer Kerry Meagher leading Notre Dame
with an individual win.
Meets: 10/3 ND Inv, 10/11 Bronco Open, 10/18 Pre-NCAAs, 10/31 Big East (NYC), 11/15
Great Lakes Reg (Terre Haute)
Returnees: Molly Huddle (6th, 4th '01 FL; 4:20.50, 15:36.95), Lauren King (19th, 27th
'01; 4:14.72), Loryn King (76th), Stephanie Madia (78th, 23rd '01 FL; 4:26.98), Katie
Wales (225th); Megan Johnson (130th '01), Rachel Endress, Jean Marinangeli (17:12),
Elizabeth Webster
Newcomers: Amy Kohlmeier (CAN; 2nd Can Jr XC; 4:29.43, 9:52.01), Kerry Meagher (4:28),
Jean Marinangeli (17:12)
4. Colorado
NCAA indoor 5k champ Sara Gorton returns to lead the Buffs and is joined by Natalie
Florence (22nd), Jackie Zeigle (138th), and Christine Bolf (186th) from the '02 NCAA
harrier meet, as well as Laura Zeigle who missed most of last fall's campaign due to
injuries, but showed good fitness while competing unattached last spring. 2001 NCAA
runner up Renee Metiever transferred from Georgia Tech after missing all of last year
due to a medical redshirt while Villanova transfer Kalin Toedesbusch will also help
the Buffs. At the CU Time Trial, it's traditional for the returnees to keep cranking
up the pace until only 7 runners remain, then permit the youngest among them to
"win". This year, newcomer Shannon Sparks earned that honor followed by Bolf,
Toedebusch, Florence, Gorton, and Metivier; Jackie Zeigle finished about 50 seconds
behind, while neither Laura Zeigle nor Erika Odlaug appeared.
Meets: 10/04 Rocky Mountain Shootout, 10/18 Pre-NCAAs, 10/31 Big-12 (Austin, Tx),
11/15 Mountain Reg (Ogden, UT)
Returnees: Sara Gorton (10th, 8th '00; 4:15.48, 15:24.97; ind 5k champ, 3rd out 5k),
Natalie Florence (22nd, 100th '01; 16:21.41, 33:40.46), Jackie Zeigle (138th, 7th FL;
5:02.45y, 9:41.23), Christine Bolf (186th); (returning from injuries): Erika Odlaug
(2nd '01 FL; 17th '01 World XC; 10:35.13y '02), Laura Zeigle (3rd '00 FL, '01 USA Jr
Champ; 4:28.85, 9:51.28),
Newcomers: Shanna Sparks; Renee Metiever (x-fer from GaTech; 2nd '01), Kalin
Toedesbusch (x-fer from Villanova; 67th, 95th '01;)
5. Providence
Perennial top-10 power Providence returns four from their sixth-place squad, and gain
two impact runners to aid them in their quest for a trophy. All-American Mary Cullen
(28th) blossomed last year to twice break 16:00 and garner 4th in the NCAA outdoor
5k. Deirdre Byrne, Lisa Cappello, and Roisin Quinn also return from last year's NCAA
squad. Kimberly Smith and Fiona Crombie, a pair of New Zealand imports, should
immediately help the Friars; Smith ran 9:09.96 and 15:47.92 this spring, while Crombie
competed outdoors for PC. PC opened by hosting Rhode Island and New Hampshire on 9/5;
Smith and Cullen "jogged" away from the field, while Byrne and Crombie were 20 secs
back with Cappello another 40 seconds behind. PC then dominated the 9/12 BC Select
meet, with Cullen, Smith, Crombie and Byrne finishing 1-2-5-6; with Cappello sitting
out the race, Katie Twarog was the Frairs' 5th.
Meets: 9/27 Griak Invite; 10/17 Penn St Invite; 10/31 Big East (NYC), 11/15 NE Reg
(Boston)
Returnees: Mary Cullen (28th, 214th '01; 9:09.13, 15:56.96; 5th 5k), Deirdre Byrne
(71st, 114th '01; 4:26.86), Lisa Cappello (176th, 196th '01, 180th '00), Roisin Quinn
(249th), Ashley Jensen, Katie Twarog
Newcomers: Kimberly Smith (NZL; '02 & '03 WXC; 4:18.09, 9:09.96, 15:47.92); Fiona
Crombie (NZL; 4:48y, 9:45);
Mike Scott
Vice Chair/Secretary, USATF Cross Country Council
Clubs Coordinator, Team USA Distance Running
Coordinator, CanAm High Performance Distance Circuit
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://miscott.home.att.net/
