Analysis of the 2002 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
by Mike Scott,
University of Rhode Island
Updated: October 14
For the sixth 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's the top 6 teams; Complete version of this analysis may be found at:
http://miscott.home.att.net/wxcanal/
Places listed in parentheses refer to finish at the 2001 NCAA D-1 XC Championships at Furman University, unless otherwise noted. Performances are from the 2001-02 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
Weekend Roundup:
BYU's B team swept the top five spots at the 10/11 Arizona State Invitational. Boston College debuted USA Junior champ Maria Cicero and won the 10/11 New England Championships over Division III power Williams, while Brown University improved significantly to grab 3rd in the 42-team field. Toledo ran away with the 10/11 All-Ohio meet, with Kent State second and Miami third. Providence won the 10/12 National Invitational over Villanova, Penn State, West Virginia, and Tennessee.
Weekly Preview:
Here's the weekend we've all been waiting for (and maybe dreading in some cases): Pre-NCAAs at Indiana State in Terre Haute. At the moment, ninety-six women's squads are slated to line up in two seeded and one open race --including 26 of the top-30 squads in this week's coaches' poll! The thankless task of seeding the field among the three races falls to the NCAA Cross Country Subcommittee; the seeds will be announced on Wednesday (Oct 16) and posted on the Indiana State website.
So, what makes the Pre-NCAAs such an important meet? Originally founded as an opportunity for schools to preview the NCAA course and to provide the host institution with a test meet to evaluate their procedures and crew, the event has morphed into the single most important event in determining the composition of the at large berths to the NCAA meet. Potential "bubble teams" (teams that might qualify for an at large berth) flock to Pre-NCAAs in their annual pilgrimage to score all-important wins over potential auto-qualifiers from the "weak regions" and other bubble teams.
What's interesting is that many teams from the so-called weak regions aren't playing this year. Using the coaches' poll as a guide, the "weakest" regions are the South, South Central, and Midwest. Among the South's potential auto qualifiers and bubble teams, only Florida State is running (so is Mississippi State); Tennessee, South Florida, Auburn, and Georgia Tech aren't running in Terre Haute. From the Midwest, Missouri and Minnesota are running, but SW Missouri State and Kansas State aren't. The South Central regional will be well represented; although Arkansas (the top rated SC squad) is hosting a meet this weekend, Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor, and Rice are all entered at Indiana State.
Up front, most observers expect Brigham Young to dominate (assuming that Coach Patrick Shane actually runs his best squad, a luxury that he can afford since he appears to have almost a dozen runners that could compose his top 7). However, the Cougars could get a challenge from Stanford if the Cardinal can find a fifth runner (and Stanford has the talent on campus). Michigan State, Georgetown, and North Carolina State look to pick off the top contenders should one falter, while many are eager to see how Duke's fab frosh fare in the field and which of Colorado's frosh actually start the race.
Not everyone will be at Pre-NCAAs; Arkansas hosts their Chili Pepper Festival and will host, among others, SW Missouri -- the current #2 team from the Midwest -- while Auburn hosts South Florida at the Auburn Invite.
TOP SIX TEAMS:
1. Brigham Young (Mountain)
Patrick Shane's BYU Cougars have won three NCAA crowns in the last five years (97-99-01). BYU would appear to be in the driver's seat to win it all, returning five of their last year's NCAA seven -- a quintet that would have won last year's meet by a large margin. Last year's individual fifth-placer finisher Michaela Manova stepped it up in during track to win the steeple in an NCAA record and should be considered an individual contender, while teammate Jessie Kindschi claimed 7th. Lindsey Thomsen and Nan (nee Evans) Kennard finished 23rd and 36th in 2001. Their fifth returnee, Amy Bair, finished 45th last year -- and the Cougars add a sub-34:00 10k runner in Devra Vierkant, a 34:32 10k performer in Kristen Ogden, a 10:28 steepler in Breanne Sandberg, and the junior national 1500 champ Kassi Anderson. Redshirt frosh Breanne Sandberg, a 10:28 steepler last spring), led the Cougars at the 9/14 BYU Autumn Classic as Coach Shane held out his top five.
Great American showed the BYU can run only half their potential top seven and still dominate one of the deepest fields in recent memory. Surprising Kassi Anderson was BYU's top finisher, a mere 9 seconds behind UNC's Shalane Flanagan. Manova was just behind, with Sandberg and Kennard also finishing in the top 7. Running "B" race winner Katie Martin in the seeded race would have netted the Cougars an individual 8th-place too -- and an amazing 26 points. However, BYU settled for a mere 105-point margin of victory. Among those not racing at Great American were NCAA scorers Kindschi and Thomsen, as well as potential scorer Viekant. BYU looks impressive early -- now the question remains whether they can be rated tops in the only poll that matters -- the NCAA championships team scores on November 25! Coach Shane was quoted as saying "I hoped we wouldn't be so dominant because I don't like to be ranked first."
BYU's "B" team perfect-scored the 10/11 Arizona State Invitational, with Ogden and Bair finishing together in 1st and 2nd, with Lisa Antoneli just behind in 3rd. BYU is expected to debut Kindschi and Thomsen at Pre-NCAAs.
Meets: 10/19 Pre-NCAAs, 11/1 MW Conf (BYU), 11/16 Mtn Reg (NMex)
Returnees: Michaela Manova (5th, 148th '00; 9:18.49i, 9:45.94 s/c; steeplechase champ; 8th ind 3k), Jessie Kindschi (7th, 28th '00 D-2; 34:32.48), Lindsey Thomsen (23rd, 150th '00; 16:16.47; 33:58.20; 8th ind 5k; 16th 10k), Nan (nee Evans) Kennard (36th, 152nd '00; 10:14.16s/c), Amy Bair (45th), Kassi Anderson (WXC, 4:18.04, 1st USA Jr 1500), Devra Vierkant (16:16.97; 33:56.02), Breanne Sandberg (10:28.87s/c), Kristen Ogden (34:32.28), Not returning -- Sarah Taylor (24th, 94th '00, 55th '98),
Newcomer: Shalice Pugmire (4:56.62y)
2. Stanford (West)
Individual contender Lauren Fleshman leads the Cardinal as they attempt to redeem themselves after a disappointing fifth-place team effort last year at Furman. Fleshman, who finished third at last year's harrier championships, went on to claim the indoor 3000 and outdoor 5000 titles. She's joined by former Foot Locker champions Erin Sullivan and Sara Bei, as well as former Foot Locker runner-ups Mariel Ettinger and Anita Siraki, and '01 All American Alicia Craig. In their season opener at Cal-Fullerton, Craig and Bei tied for the win, while Malindi Elmore and Jeane Goff finished 3-4 about 30 seconds back. Siraki, Sullivan, and Ettinger finished 9-11-13, about a minute behind the leaders; Fleshman apparently sat out this race. Stanford swept the long and short course titles at its own invitational, with Bei and Craig taking and easy 1-2 over the 6k, while Fleshman finished 2nd to Canadian star Emilie Mondor at 4k, with Mailindi Elmore claiming 4th. The following week at Notre Dame, the Cardinal dominated the field with Bei, Fleshman, and Craig running away from the field to claim the top three finishers and Elmore claiming 5th behind star Irish frosh Molly Huddle. Stanford's fifth at South Bend was a resurging Anita Siraki, as the Cardinal apparently rested Sullivan.
With possibly the strongest 1-2-3 in the country in Fleshman, Bei, and Craig, and with Elmore just behind in 4th, the Cardinal is a fifth runner away from contending for top honors. If they can get Sullivan, Ettinger, or one of their other stars to close thing up, they could contend for top honors.
Meets: 10/19 Pre-NCAAs, 11/2 Pac-10s (Pasadena), 11/16 West Reg (Stanford)
Returnees: Lauren Fleshman (3rd, 11th '00, 5th '99; 2nd '98 FL; 4:18.11, 9:07.45i, 15:35.59; '01 & '02 out 5000 champ, ind 3k champ), Alicia Craig (28th; 20th '00 FL), Erin Sullivan (52nd, 25th '00, 7th '99; '97 & '98 FL Champ; '99 USA Jr Champ; 16:30.04, 34:10.32; 10th 10k), Sara Bei (89th; '00 FL Champ; 4:22.98, 16:22.54; 12th out 5k; USA Jr 3k champ), Mariel Ettinger (126th, 96th '00, 217th '99; 2nd '97 FL; 16:47.31), Jeane Goff (10:22.46s/c), Anita Siraki (2nd '00 FL), Malindi Elmore (4:20.12, 4:39.88iy; 4th Mile)
Newcomers: Kristen Cohoon (10:04.77), Yfa Kretzschmar (2:10.05, 5:01.95y); Not running (deferred admission): Julie Allen (11th FL; 4:59.27y, 10:37.75y),
3. Michigan State (Great Lakes)
The Spartans finished 11th in South Carolina last year. Michelle Carson and Jamie Kryzminski lead six returning members of last year's NCAA squad. At the non-scoring 9/20 Spartan Open, Carson shattered the course record to lead 4 of her teammates -- Krzyminski, Stein, Durocher, and Pepera - to finish among the top 8. The Spartans continued to roll at Griak, notching an easy win over a solid field behind Cason's individual title. MSU's website reports that Katie Anderson is injured and is expected to redshirt. Even without Anderson, Michigan runs like a trophy contender with Carson a potential top-10 finisher and Krzyminski a potential All-American.
Meets: 10/19 Pre-NCAAs, 11/2 Big Ten, 11/16 Great Lakes (W. Lafayette, Ind)
Returnees: Michelle Carson (34th; 16:38.22, 34:11.96), Jamie Kryzminski (106th; 16:38.25, 33:58.89; 7th 10k), Katie Anderson (116th), Natalie Stein (147th), Cindy Durocher (208th, 62nd '99), Sarah Pepera (10:33.71s/c)
Newcomers: Megan Radermacher (2:14.42), Michelle Rafferty (11:00.70y), Brittany Ballard
4. Colorado (Mountain)
Questions abound following the official season "opener" for the 2000 NCAA Champs. Colorado returns a seasoned core from last fall's eighth-place squad -- Molly Austin claimed 8th individually, while Sara Gorton's 4th in the outdoor 5k shows that she's returned to the form that garnered her an 8th-place finish at the 2000 harrier champs -- plus the Buffs struck it big in the recruiting department this year, signing Foot Locker runner-up Erika Odlaug, '01 USA Junior champ Laura Zeigle, and Laura's twin sister Jackie, 7th at last fall's Foot Locker meet. Foot Locker runner up Odlaug finished 17th at the World XC championships in March, but struggled with posterior tibialis tendonitis for the rest of the spring and skipped the post-season June meets; the Boulder Daily Camera notes that Odlaug might redshirt this season. Odlaug didn't compete at the the 8/31 CU Time Trial, but the Zeigle twins finished just ahead of the rest of the squad, including Christina Bolf, Natalie Florence, Gorton, Tera Moody, and Austin. While Austin and Florence looked strong with an easy 1-2 finish at the 10/5 Rocky Mountain Shootout, Gorton jogged in the last could kilo after reportedly feeling dizzy. And none of the highly touted frosh class (Odlaug and the Sisters Zeigle) appeared -- the CU website noted that Jackie Zeigle has a stress fracture in her left foot while sister Laura was held out with a right forefoot injury and had a bone scan scheduled for later the day of the Shootout.
Meets: 10/19 Pre-NCAAs, 11/2 Big 12 (Mo), 11/9 Air Force Dual, 11/16 Mtn Reg (NMex)
Returnees: Molly Austin (8th; 16:16.10i, 33:43.11), Tera Moody (88th, 71st '00, 118th '99), Natalie Florence (100th; 16:21.41, 33:40.46), Sara Gorton (8th '00; 4:21.77, 4:40.35iy; 15:51.55; 6th ind mile, 4th out 5k)
Newcomers: Erika Odlaug (2nd FL; 17th World XC; 10:35.13y), Laura Zeigle (3rd '00 FL, '01 USA Jr Champ; 4:25.24, 9:39.14, 10:15.25y, 16:29), Jackie Zeigle (7th FL; 5:02.45y, 9:41.23), Christine Bolf (10:35,.83y)
5. Georgetown (Mid Atlantic)
The Hoyas return their entire squad that claimed team bronze in 2001. Jill Laurendeau, Marni Kruppa, and Erin Sicher will lead Georgetown, with US Junior national team member Nicole Lee and Amanda Pape also returning. The Hoyas' trademark last fall was their very tight pack running. Despite holding out five members of last year's NCAA squad, Georgetown downed visitors Penn State and Yale at a 9/14 Tri-Meet to open the season. The Hoyas could only muster a 6th-place finish at Great American with Laurendeau, Kruppa, and Pape missing from their lineup; Lee had an excellent race to lead Georgetown. Laurendeau and Pape debuted at the 10/5 Cowboy Jamboree; Laurendeau won the race to help her mostly "B" team teammates edge SW Missouri State.
Meets: 10/19 Pre-NCAAs, 11/1 Big East (Boston), 11/16 Mid Atlantic Reg (WVa)
Returnees: Jill Laurendeau (14th; 4:22.64, 4:4.55iy), Marni Kruppa (37th, 28th '00, 127th '99; 16:10.03; 33:43.72), Erin Sicher (43rd; 4:23.26, 4:44.98iy), Amanda Pape (46th, 98th '00; 16:39.39), Nicole Lee (84th; US World XC Team), Jodee Adams-Moore (112th), Colleen Kelly (145th, 143rd '00)
Newcomers: Kim Malcolm (4:58.46), Meghan O'Neil (2:11.14), Danielle Rodgers (2:10.86)
6. North Carolina State (Southeast)
North Carolina State pulled together an excellent team effort to claim bridesmaid honors at Furman. Individual contender Kristin Price, 4th last year and winner of the 10k during track, will lead the Woldpack and will be joined up front by Megan Coombs (13th in '01). Josi Lauber, Diana Henderson, and Erin Swain all return with NCAA meet experience, while former ACC Freshman of the Year Jennifer Modliszewski is reportedly healthy after struggling with injuries over the last couple years. An understrength Wolfpack squad fell to host Notre Dame (also understrength) at the adidas Invite; although Price won the event and Lucas finished 3rd, Vadnais, Henderson, and Swain's efforts were not enough to overcome the Irish and NC State fell 32 to 43. NC State hosted the 9/21 Wolfpack Invite, but only ran a B squad composed of redshirt frosh. At Great American, the Wolfpack raced without Price and Kraft and were narrowly nipped for runner-up honors by Columbia; Coombs also debuted, but ran subpar. Kris Roth raced unattached in the "B" race and would have scored for the Wolfpack in the seeded section.
Meets: 10/19 Pre-NCAAs, 11/2 ACCs (Atlanta), 11/16 SE Reg (Greenville, NC)
Returnees: Kristin Price (4th; 9:20.11i, 15:35.67, 33:39.66; 10,000 champ), Megan Coombs (13th; 203rd '99; 9:22.98i, 10:12.05s/c, 16:35.38; 9th s/c), Josi Lauber (173rd), Diana Henderson (141st '00), Erin Swain (220th '00), Janelle Vadnais, Jennifer Modliszewski (7th FL '97), Sara Graybill, Kara Price, Ginger Wheeler, Beth Kraft
Newcomers: Renee Gunning (x-fer from Villanova, 103rd, 155th '00), Julia Lucas (5:00.39y, 10:35.23y), Kristina Roth (16th FL), Amy Arnold (Ohio Champ)
Complete version of this analysis may be found at: