2000 NCAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY POLL ANALYSIS
by Mike Scott, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Updated September 25.
Here's an analysis of the NCAA female harrier teams. I have listed the
teams according to the NCAA coaches' poll rankings (which I don't
necessarily always agree with). Unless otherwise noted, the numbers in
parentheses following individuals' names indicate that runner's finish at
the '99 NCAA meet at Bloomington, IN; "FL" refers to that runner's finish
at the Foot Locker Championships.
The complete analysis will be posted at:
http://miscott.home.att.net/wxcanal.htm
Most of the information used to compile this analysis came from the
individual institutions' athletic web-sites, the t-and-f listserve, and
of course, Walt Murphy's X-Country X-Press. The website
www.collegerunning.com was also helpful in locating team info and results.
WEEKLY REVIEW: Defending champs BYU downed North Carolina State,
Georgetown, Ball State and Duke at the 9/22 Great American Festival in a
sloppy Friday night race under lights that felt the effects of the
remnants of a hurricane. At the always strong 9/23 Griak Invite, host
Minnesota downed a huge field including Yale (!), Arizona State, Arizona,
Providence, Colorado State, Oregon, Marquette, Weber State, and Wake
Forest. Michigan easily handled UNC and William & Mary at the W&M
Interregional.
WEEKLY PREVIEW: On the West Coast, Stanford hosts Wisconsin, Kansas
State, Brigham Young, Arkansas, Washington, Cal-Irvine in a clash of
titians. In the east, a strong interregional field including Boston
College, Brown, Texas A&M, Boston University, Bucknell, James Madison,
and William & Mary will face off at the Iona Meet of Champions over the
famed Van Cortlandt Park course.
THE TEAMS
1. STANFORD (West)
The Cardinal has the best 1-2-3 in the country with Lauren Fleshman, Erin
Sullivan, and Julia Stamps, while three other returnees ran 16:45 or
faster last spring.. Frosh Victoria Chang, the FootLocker champ, and
Jillian Mastroianni, the FootLocker East winner, should impact here. The
Cardinal scored easy wins at the 9/2 Hornet Harrier Classic and the 9/16
Fresno St Invite, although at the latter race Sullivan led for most of
the first three miles of the 6k before succumbing to heat stroke and
finishing almost a minute back from the leaders. Stanford faces
Wisconsin, Kansas State, Brigham Young, Arkansas, Washington, Cal-Irvine
at home on 9/30.
Newcomers: Victoria Chang, HI, 1st FL, 4:43.03 1500, 9:48.39 3k,
10:44.81; Jillian Mastroianni, NY, 20th FL, 9:47.7 3k, 10:33.54
Returnees -- Lauren Fleshman (5th, 4:17.76, 15:50.19; 2nd '98 FL), Erin
Sullivan (7th, 9:27.66, 16:11.14; 2x FL champ), Julia Stamps (14th, 6th
'98, 4th '97), Laura Turner (100th, 156th '98; 16:45.24), Mariel Ettinger
(217th; 2nd '97 FL), Caroline Annis (40th '98; '99 USA World Jr Tm;
16:43.24, 34:42.37), Elena Villareal (16:33.48)
Meets: 9/30 Stanford, 10/6 NDame, 10/14 Pre-NCAAs, 10/28 PAC-10 (UW),
11/11 West Reg (Fresno)
2. WISCONSIN (Great Lakes)
The top returning team strictly off of athletes that ran in the '99
champs. Erica Palmer will attempt to defend her title, but will face a
tough challenge from Colorado's Wheeler. Wisconsin finished 1-2-3-4-6 at
the 9/16 Illinios Invite to win with a near-perfect 16 points. The
Badgers face Stanford, Kansas State, Brigham Young, Arkansas, Washington,
and Cal-Irvine at the 9/30 Stanford Invite.
Newcomers: Hilary Edmondson, Canada, 4:22.18 1500; Michelle Lilienthal,
IA, 6th FL, 4:32.34 (1st Wisc Ch), 5:00.98, 9:47.53 3k
Returnees -- Erica Palmer (1st; 33:20.50), Erin Aufderheide (25th, 71st
'98; 9:34.01, 16:28.08, 35:07.53), Bethany Brewster (54th, 62nd '98),
Stephanie Pesch (88th, 112th '98; 4:19.13), Liz Reusser (112th, '98 Wisc
XC champ; 9:27.55, 16:26.94; 34:53.67), Susie Motl (35:25.86)
Meets: 9/30 Stanford, 10/14 Pre-NCAAs, 10/29 Big-10s (Wi), 11/11 Gt Lks
Reg (MiSt)
3. KANSAS STATE (Midwest)
Returns just about everyone, but still needs their 5th to step it up --
this was their Achilles heel in '99. Korene Hinds and Amy Mortimer are a
great 1-2 punch. K-State dominated the 9/2 Wichita State Invite with a
16-point total, then perfect scored the D-1 field at the 9/16 Woody
Greeno meet. However, in both meets their fifth scorer was significantly
behind their fourth. Next up is the 9/30 Stanford Invite, where they
will face Stanford, Wisconsin, Brigham Young, Arkansas, Washington, and
Cal-Irvine.
Newcomers: Cate Holston, KS, 11:08.44
Returnees -- Korene Hinds (10th; 2:03.72, 4:20.49, 9:10.10), Amy Mortimer
(12th; 4:16.78, 9:13.74, 16:14.57), Anne Wetterhus (39th; 35:02.26),
Amanda Crouse (68th; 9:35.31), Ekaterini Fotopoulou (170th), Julianne
Kronoshek (221st)
Meets: 9/30 Stanford, 10/3 KsSt, 10/14 Pre-NCAAs, 10/28 Big-12 (CU),
11/11 Midwest Reg (Waterloo, IA)
4. COLORADO (Mountain)
The Buffs had an off day last year in Bloomington, but showed what they
are capable of during the spring. Wheeler is considered a strong
favorite to win the individual harrier title, while frosh Gorton debuted
impressively at the 9/2 CU Time Trial. Colorado races at home this
weekend at the Rocky Mountain Shootout.
Newcomers: Sara Gorton, AZ, 4:54.61, 9:36.24 3k, 10:26.74, Kendall
Wheeler, MN, Minn St 1600 champ
Returnees -- Kara Wheeler (9th, 4:12.15, 8:54.82, 15:28.78); Catherine
Wright (69th; 35:23.25), Tera Moody (118th; 16:42.11; 34:50.40), Jodie
Hughes (187th; 9:25.89), Lesley Higgins (204th; 9:26.02), Molly Austin
(236th), Jen Fazoli (127th '98, 18th '96 FL; 35:11.65
Meets: 9/30 Rocky Mt Shootout, 10/14 Pre-NCAAs, 10/16 Tiger Inv (B),
10/28 Big-12 (CU), 11/11 Mtn Reg (CoSt)
5. BRIGHAM YOUNG (Mountain)
The Cougars return 3 runners -- Tara Northcutt, Sharolyn Shields-Thayer,
and Sarah Elliot -- from the top 41 at last fall's NCAA meet, plus 3-4
more runners at 9:31 or faster last spring. They easily handled
Washington and Weber State at the BYU Triple Crown, despite missing
Northcutt (reportedly recovering from a minor knee injury). Also sans
Northcutt, BYU thumped NC State, Georgetown, Ball State, and Duke at the
Great American Festival. This weekend they face Stanford, Wisconsin,
Kansas State, Arkansas, Washington, and Cal-Irvine at Stanford.
Newcomers: Holly Hunter, WV, 5:05.72, Nan Evans
Returnees -- Tara (nee Rohatinsky) Northcutt (17th; '00 NCAA 10k champ;
16:15.67, 33:49.24), Sharolyn Shields-Thayer (23rd, 13th '98; 9:17.71),
Sarah Elliot (58th '99), Tara Haynes (77th '98, 38th '97), Jill Rencher
(9:31.26), Sherida Rogers (9:27.76), Jill Rencher (9:31.26 '99), Melanie
Steere (4:20.36 '99), Lindsey Thomsen
Meets: 9/30 Stanford, 10/14 Pre-NCAAs, 10/28 MtnW Conf (BYU), 11/11 Mtn
Reg (Weber St)
6. NC STATE (Southeast)
The Wolfpack edged Virgina at their own 9/16 Wolfpack Invite, then fell
to BYU at 9/22 Great American. At the latter race, NC State evidenced a
tight 1-4 pack (7 sec gap), and only dropped 20 more secs to their 5th.
Newcomers: Sara Graybill, KY, 4:57.59, 10:58.7; Josianne Lauber, PA,
10:52.74; Erin Swain, VA, 11:07.63; Janelle Vadnais, NY, 12th FL NE,
4:52y '99
Returnees-- Christy Nichols (13th; '96 All-american), Katie Sabino (35th,
67th '98; 9:27.74), Beth Fonner (160th), Amy Beykirch (176th, 213th '98,
70th '97), Megan Coombs (203rd), Molly Purser (230th), Lindsey Rodgers
(41st '98, 16:47.61, 34:19.27), Jennifer Modliszewski.
Meets: 9/30 Greensboro, 10/14 NC Coll Champs, 10/28 ACCs, 11/11 SE Reg
(Furman)
7. GEORGETOWN (Mid Atlantic)
The Hoyas debuted at the 9/22 Great American Festival, where they were
soundly beaten by BYU and NC State; their B squad finished 5th at W&M.
NCAA Indoor mile runner-up Autumn Fogg is running well early, but the
rest of the squad needs to step it up to contend.
Newcomers: Amanda Pape, KS, 7th FL, 5:05.64; Treniere Clement, OH, 2:13.6
Returnees -- Lorena Adams (63rd, 16:45.89, 35:20.25), Kristen Gordon
(75th, 4th '98, 40th '97), Emily Enstice (117th, 170th '98, 9:34.56,
16:36.93, 34:34.17), Marni Kruppa (127th, 8th '98 FL, 16:40.29,
34:31.92), Janelle Thomas (151st)
Meets: 9/30 GWU, 10/7 Paul Short, 10/14 Pre-NCAA (& W&M), 10/27 Big East
(Boston), 11/11 Mid Atlantic Reg
8. MINNESOTA (Midwest)
Senior co-captains Corinne Nimitz and Elaine Eggleston and frosh Darja
Vasiljeva led the Gophers, 17th last fall, to a big win at their own
Griak invite. Earlier, Minnesota easily downed Drake at the 9/8 "Oz"
Invite.
Newcomers: Laine Misch, CAN, 5th Ont Prov Champs; Darja Vasiljeva,
Latvia, 2:12.8, 4:26.47 1500, 9:32.44 3k
Returnees -- Corinne Nimitz (79th '99, 152nd '98, 34:31.23), Elaine
Eggleston (92nd '99, 191st '98), Victoria Moses (188th '99, JR), Anita
Menden (DNF, So)
Meets: 9/29 N Iowa, 10/7 Ark-LR, 10/14 Pre-NCAAs, 10/21 Minn, 10/29 Big10
(Wi), 11/11 Midwest Reg (N Iowa)
9. BOSTON COLLEGE (Northeast)
The Eagles perfect-scored the fields at the 9/8 UNH and 9/16 Dartmouth
Invites. A combination of strong returnees, transfers, and frosh have
resulted in a strong squad. The Eagles face a strong interregional field
this weekend at Iona.
Newcomers:. Danielle Jelley, NY, 13th FL, 5:02.07, 9:59.83 3k, 10:42.26;
Jen Kramer, NY, 4:32.31 1500, 9:49.36 3k; Julie Spolidoro, Old Dominion,
'00 World XC, 16:29.54, 35:29.68
Returnees -- Nicole Portley (164th), Cate Guiney (167th, 7th '98 FL,
9:35.61), Lisa McIssac (168th), Megan Guiney (220th), Meghan Andrade
(247th), Katie Ryan (9:28.59)
Meets: 9/30 Iona, 10/13 NEs, 10/14 Pre-NCAAs, 10/27 Big East (Franklin),
11/11 NE Reg (VC)
10. YALE (Northeast)
After looking strong winning the 9/16 Ram Invite at Van Cortlandt, Yale
bursts onto the national scene with a huge runner-up finish at the Griak
Invite behind Minnesota but ahead of many ranked teams. Sisters Kate and
Laura O'Neill and fellow soph Lindsay Mitchell lead the team.
Returnees: Kate O'Neill, Laura O'Neill, Lindsay Mitchell, Nancy Wolcott,
Katie Rigney, Amanda Brewster, Kathryn LaFrance
Meets: 10/6 vs Harv & Princeton, 10/13 NEs, 10/27 HEPs (VC), 11/11 NE Reg
(VC)
