NAU Women’s X C

Not sure who Cotter is, but I heard in the rumor mill that Hanson is hurt, and out for the season.

Stephanie Cotter was D 2 National Champ from Adams State transferred into NAU this summer

Also Nikita Moore and Victoria Gaitan have not raced and are major talents. NAU could be a podium team with a team of Cotter, O’Neill, Moore, Gaitan, and Hanson. Hope they get it together. They would be fun to watch.

IHeardARumor wrote:

Not sure who Cotter is, but I heard in the rumor mill that Hanson is hurt, and out for the season.

Sounds like it.

kingsoffall wrote:

Also Nikita Moore and Victoria Gaitan have not raced and are major talents. NAU could be a podium team with a team of Cotter, O’Neill, Moore, Gaitan, and Hanson. Hope they get it together. They would be fun to watch.

Tori Gaitan was on a major decline her senior year, doubt she ever comes back to the form you remember.

All of the top 7 from their 2020 11th place finish are back "

Annika Reiss

Bryn Morley

Delaney Rasmussen

Jessa Hanson

Jesselyn Bries

Pipi Eitel

Taryn O'Neill

Eitel was #1 at Kyte, #2 at Lehigh and was running #2 for NAU at 5k Friday then lost 46 places to #5 in the last 1000m. I wonder if she fell or ??? Holding steady would have placed the team up one spot.

I noticed that Utah State and Villanova were at Lehigh and then at Nuttycombe and all of their runners ran 40-60 seconds slower at Nuttycombe and placed way back. Makes me wonder how much of a test the Lehigh race was. Or how much tougher the Zimmer course is.

Olivere Villanova 3 20:03 becomes 57 21:00 at Nuttycombe

Struthers Utah St 4 20:03 becomes 33 20:43

Smith Villanova 6 20:12 becomes 77 21:10

Brinkerhoff Ut St 14 20:25 becomes 94 21:14

Rivera Ut St 17 20:27 becomes 72 21:08

etc

On the other hand, the N Az ladies times for Paul Short vs Pre Nats (ex Eitel) were much more similar. Ditto for Georgetown.

So, how much faster was Apalachee than Nuttycombe on Friday?

runnerexpert wrote:

kingsoffall wrote:

Also Nikita Moore and Victoria Gaitan have not raced and are major talents. NAU could be a podium team with a team of Cotter, O’Neill, Moore, Gaitan, and Hanson. Hope they get it together. They would be fun to watch.

Tori Gaitan was on a major decline her senior year, doubt she ever comes back to the form you remember.

I think she had a big growing spurt as a senior in HS, some leg issues associated with that. You are right, she may never be the same as she was in her early HS years. But, I wish her well.

I wonder, does Mike Smith work with the women at the same level as he does with the men? Or is Becca Pflugrad doing the "hands on" coaching of the women?

That’s too bad about Tori. She was an amazing runner. Hope she regains her form.

fallboy wrote:

That’s too bad about Tori. She was an amazing runner. Hope she regains her form.

She may have found peace without running at a high level and isn't interested in regaining her past form.

FastTuohy wrote:

runnerexpert wrote:

Tori Gaitan was on a major decline her senior year, doubt she ever comes back to the form you remember.

I think she had a big growing spurt as a senior in HS, some leg issues associated with that. You are right, she may never be the same as she was in her early HS years. But, I wish her well.

Yes, I too was watching her with interest and I am rooting for a comeback. If you see this Tori, we wish you the best.

Yes Mike Smith is very involved with the woman's team. They also have a great group of support coaches.

Tori was injured much of her senior year

My daughter is there and Smith is very much hands on with both teams. All the coaches are great.

Nikitta Moore is racing this year by looks of it? Ran well at Indiana but dropped back in other races? Maybe new to racing 6km? Her high school times would’ve made her a top recruit here

I loved watching her race in high school. I hope she is happy, it matters. Would love to see a come back story !!

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