Women's NCAA Cross Country Championship Preview and Predictions

Yes, an obvious oversight considering Blood has been in the top 10 the last two years at NCAA's and beat both Hasay and Schaaf at PAC 10's. If she's on, she will no doubt be top 10.

Mentions Blood three times in a row here; they just did not rank here in the top 10+ Where would you put Blood? Clearly there are reasons to have her below the first 7 and #10 is the #2 Vona girl, who might well beat her and note that only one Washington runner is listed as well.

"In 2008 Christine Babcock (Irvine, CA) and Kendra Schaaf (Craven, Saskatchewan, CAN) finished tremendous freshmen seasons for Washington by placing 5th and 9th in the team competition at the NCAA Championships. The Huskies won the team title with 79 points, coming only seven seconds away from finishing their entire 7-woman line-up before the third runner of Oregon (results). The Ducks, led by returning senior Nicole Blood (Saratoga, NY), finished a distant but admirable 2nd-place.

As expected, Washington have continued their string of undefeated team meets since 2008 by winning the Pre-NCAA meet, PAC-10 and NCAA West Regional titles in 2009 (Pre-NCAA results). They have won everything there is to be won.

Despite Washington's dominant 2008 and an unblemished record in 2009, there are many who think this year's NCAA women's team competition will be decided by a much narrower margin. One reason is the continued strength of the Oregon Duck program. Oregon graduated three seniors out of their top-5 from 2008, but have found a new star and new energy in freshman Jordan Hasay (Arroyo Grande, CA). The Ducks almost upended the Huskies at the PAC-10 meet at USC three weeks ago with secondary school legends Blood and Hasay leading the way to coming up only seven points short of UW.

The Oregon threat to Washington appeared significant until the West Regional where despite great races from Hasay and Blood, Babcock brought Washington's top-5 home with her 10th-place finish to secure a 1, 3, 4, 7, 10 win for the Huskies (results). Final score: Washington 25, Oregon 66. For us that signaled the end of Oregon's NCAA team title momentum."