New version of my women's xc poll analysis now posted at:
http://miscott.home.att.net/wxcanal/
Here's the top 6
NCAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY COACHES' POLL ANALYSIS
by Mike Scott
University of Rhode Island
Updated: 9 October 2001
Weekly Review: This was a pretty quiet weekend as most of the top teams took the
weekend off in preparation for next weekend's showdown in Furman at the Pre-NCAA meet.
Top-ranked Colorado formally debuted at home at the Rocky Mountain Shootout, easily
dominating over Western State, the top-rate Div. II team. Stanford's B squad ran away
with the Arizona State Invite. At the Notre Dame Invite, the hosts downed Michigan
for the win. Penn State continued their re-emergence with a win over Bucknell at Paul
Short Invite.
Weekly Preview: With few exceptions, virtually all the top teams will meet in Furman
for the Pre-NCAA Invitational. Top-10 teams slated to compete include Colorado,
Stanford, NC State, Brigham Young, Arizona State, Boston College, North Carolina, and
Arizona. Providence College will run at the New England Championships. Arkansas
hosts the Chili Pepper Invite. Michigan will host Wisconsin at the Wolverine
Interregional.
Teams are listed according to the October 8 Finishlynx/NCAA Division 1 Women's Cross
Country Poll.
The Top 6
1. Colorado
Last fall, Kara Grgas-Wheeler capped a stellar collegiate career with an NCAA
individual crown that spurred her teammates on to take the team crown. Despite
Grgas-Wheeler's graduation, the Buffalos are favored to repeat as NCAA champions.
Sophomore Sara Gorton, 8th last fall as a frosh, suffered a plantar tear in the spring
but appears to be recovering well. Joining Gorton at the front are Jodie Hughes,
surprise winner of the indoor NCAA 5000, and Molly Austin, 5th at 10,000 in Eugene.
Austin, Lesley Higgins, Tera Moody, Catherine Wright, and Jen Fazoli all return from
the national championships squad. In their opening competitive effort of the season
at the Rocky Mountain Shootout, Austin ran away to win by 34 seconds over Gorton.
Moody, Higgins, and Florida-transfer Hilary White rounded out the scorers for
Colorado. Not appearing for the Buffs at the Shootout were Hughes and junior Sara
Tarkington; Tarkington had won CU's Time Trial a month ago. Colorado faces their
first real challenge of the season at Pre-NCAAs.
Meets: 10/13 Pre-NCAAs, 10/27 Big 12 (Norman, OK)
Returnees: Sara Gorton (8th; 4:34yd, 9:11), Jodie Hughes (30th, 187th '99; 9:29,
16:02, 33:25), Lesley Higgins (52nd, 204th '99; 4:42yd, 9:34, 10:17sc), Tera Moody
(71st, 118th '99), Catherine Wright (104th, 69th '99), Jen Fazioli (252nd, 127th '98),
Molly Austin (5th 10k; 34:28), Kendal Grgas-Wheeler (11:03sc)
Newcomers: Hilary White (transfer from Fl; 11:08sc)
2. Stanford
The Cardinal may have only finished third at the 2000 championships in Ames' cold and
blustery conditions, but the 1996 national champs have so much stockpiled talent at
the Farm that it's tough to bet against them. Lauren Fleshman won the outdoor 5000
title last spring, while Erin Sullivan, Victoria Chang, and newcomer Sarah Bei have
combined for the last four Foot Locker titles and Fleshman, Mariel Ettinger, and
newcomer Anita Siraki have all claimed FL runner-up finishes. Stanford's recruiting
class is second to none with Bei, Siraki, and FL West region champ Alicia Craig all
relocating to Palo Alto. At the CSU Fullerton Invite, Ettinger edged '98 World junior
team member Carolyn Annis, while Sullivan finished about 15 secs back of this duo and
Chang was another 18 seconds back. At the 9/29 Stanford Invite, the hosts split their
team over 4k and 6k races and swept the team titles. Fleshman finished 2nd to
Arkansas' Byrd over 6k, with Ettinger, Bei, Chang, and Sullivan all following within
38 seconds. Craig easily won the 4k, defeating among others Sun Belt champ Michaela
Mannova (now at BYU) and Wisconsin's Bethany Brewster (9th last year at NCAAs). A
Cardinal "B" team, led by former Foot Locker finalist Laura Turner's win, won the 10/5
Arizona State Invite; Siraki finished 5th, 35-seconds behind Turner. Stanford will
race Pre-NCAAs.
Meets: 10/13 Pre-NCAAs, 10/27 PAC-10s (AzSt)
Returnees: Lauren Fleshman (11th, 5th; '01 5000 champ, 2nd '98 FL; 4:17, 4:39yd,
15:49), Erin Sullivan (25th, 7th '99; 1st '97 & '98 FL, '99 US Jr XC Champ; 9:36,
16:22, 34:47), Mariel Ettinger (96th, 217th '99; 2nd '97 FL; 16:43), Victoria Chang
(217th; 1st '99 FL; 16:44), Caroline Annis (40th '98), Malinda Elmore (4:18), Laura
Turner (10:16, 16:35)
Newcomers: Sara Bei (FL champ, 4:47.77yd, 9:39.29, 10:14.51yd), Anita Siraki (2nd FL,
4:46.35yd, 9:30.82, 10:12.48yd), Alicia Craig (20th FL, WXC, 4:46.73yd, 10:37.55yd)
3. North Carolina State
The Wolfpack placed 11th last season at NCAAs, but appears to be making a run at a
trophy this fall. All Americans Katie Sabino and Christy Nichols, and VaTech transfer
Kristen Price lead NC State in their quest; Nichols is back for her sixth season
she first earned All-American status way back in '96. The Wolfpack surprised many
with a strong win over BYU and North Carolina at the Great American meet. All
American Price led NC St with her 3rd-place finish, with Megan Coombs, Beth Fonner,
Sabino, and Christy Nichols all finishing within 24 seconds of Price. The Wolfpack
races Pre-NCAAs.
Meets: 10/13 Pre-NCAAs, 10/27 ACCs (Clemson)
Returnees: Katie Sabino (36th, 35th '99, 67th '98; 8th NCAA steeple; 9:22, 16:22,
10:05sc), Beth Fonner (101st, 160th '99; 16:49), Beth Kraft (117th, 17:06), Diana
Henderson (141st, 34:58), Erin Swain (200th), Jennifer Modliszewski, Lindsey Rogers
(41st '98; 16:33), Meegan Coombs (203rd '99; 10:28sc, 16:48), Christy Nichols (13th
'99, '96 All American)
Newcomers: Kristin Price (VaTech, 4th ind 3000; 9:18, 15:55), Kara Price (11:10sc),
Abigail Nelkie (10:50.84yd)
4. Brigham Young (tie)
The 1997 and 1999 national titlests would appear to be a little down this year, but
still return a crew that would be the envy of almost any coach in the country. '99
10k champ Tara Northcutt and Lindsey Thomsen will lead the Cougars this fall, while
South Dakota transfer Jessie Kindschi and New Orleans transfer Michaela Mannova last
fall's Sun Belt champ -- should make an immediate impact. The Cougars dominated the
open race at the Great Race of the Great Bay meet, but despite an individual win by
Northcutt at the Great American meet, BYU fell to a surprising North Carolina State
team. In Charlotte, BYU ran without likely top-5 runners Mannova, Sarah Ellett and
Nan Evans, while Thomsen is reported to have struggled with injuries recently and had
only three training days prior to racing in North Carolina. The following weekend,
BYU ran a mostly "B" team squad at the Stanford Invite with Mannova looking impressive
in her debut as a Cougar finishing second to Stanford's Alicia Craig. Next up for
BYU is Pre-NCAAs.
Meets: 10/13 Pre-NCAAs, 10/27 Mtn West (Albuquerque)
Returnees: Tara Northcutt (18th, 17th '99; '00 10k champ; 33:37), Katie Martin (55th;
10:29sc), Sarah Ellett (94th; 55th '98; 34:38), Lindsey Thomsen (150th; 16:13, 34:10),
Nan Evans (152nd; 9:59sc), Katie Moon (10:42sc)
Newcomer: Jessie Kindschi (28th D-2 '00), Michaela Mannova (148th; transfer from New
Orleans)
4. Arizona State (tie)
Lisa Aguilera finished fifth last fall in Ames to lead her Arizona State squad to a
team sixth-place finish. Joining Aguilera up front is '99 All America Kelly McDonald,
who redshirted last fall but claimed third in the inaugural collegiate steeple. The
Sun Devils followed Aguilera and McDonald's 2-3 finish at Griak to a comfortable team
win over a strong field including Providence and Arizona. Backing up Arizona State's
front-running duo up is Brianna Torres (10th at Griak). For the Sun Devils to claim a
trophy at Furman, Cody Sohn and newcomer Desiree Danvilla will need to close the gap.
Arizona State heads to Furman for Pre-NCAAs.
Meets: 10/13 Pre-NCAAs, 10/27 PAC-10s (AzSt)
Returnees: Kelly McDonald (36th '99, 134th '98; 3rd in steeple & 5000; 4:22, 9:55sc;
16:03), Lisa Aguilera (5th, 50th '99, 131st '98; 4:19, 10:08sc, 16:06), Cynthia
Atencio (46th), Brianna Torres (114th; 174th '99; 12th indoor 5000; 16:33), Beth
Martin (203rd), Kristin McFerron (210th), Cody Sohn (10:27sc)
Newcomer: Desiree Davilla
6. Boston College
The Eagles return their entire top seven from a squad that finished fourth at the 2000
championships. Twins Megan and Cate Guiney lead BC in pursuit of a national title and
are joined by fellow All-American Katie Ryan. Jennifer Kramer, Julie Spolidoro,
Sharon Van Tuyl, and Laura Smith also return. Foot Locker finalist Maria Cicero and
Mass. prep standout Melissa Sherman join the Eagles in their pursuit of a national
crown. Running without Cate Guiney, Ryan, Smith, and Spolidoro, BC opened with a loss
to a slightly understrength Providence squad despite an individual win by frosh
Cicero. Surprisingly, Meg Guiney faded to third over the final kilo after leading
much of the race. However, BC showed why they are considered a contender for the NCAA
crown when they dominated the 9/29 Meet of Champions; the Guiney twins finished 1-2 at
Van Cortland with Cate running away to a 38-second victory margin over sister Meg;
Cicero was close behind in 4th, with Ryan 9th and Smith 15th. BC's 1-5 spread was a
strong 72 seconds, which is impressive considering that Cate ran 22-secs faster than
sister Meg did while winning last year's NE regional a week prior to claiming 13th at
NCAAs. The Eagles will face the nation at Pre-NCAAs.
Meets: 10/13 Pre-NCAAs, 10/26 Big East (Van Cortlandt)
Returnees: Megan Guiney (13th, 220th '99; 9:29, 16:25), Katie Ryan (24th; 9:27),
Catherine Guiney (34th, 167th '99), Jennifer Kramer (97th), Julie Spolidoro (120th;
10:36sc), Sharon Van Tuyl (128th), Laura Smith (151st; 4:47yd), Jennifer Donovan
(10:25sc)
Newcomers: Maria Cicero (13th FL, 4:48.10yd, 10:20.68yd), Melissa Sherman (2:11.82)
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/
