Women's NCAA Cross Title

This year it will be Shalane Flanagan, she missed out last year, so this year she will be out to win it.

I can see Flanagan but also look for 5K champ Lauren Fleishman from Stanford, or maybe even Sara Bei Stanford. Sara Gorton and Natalie Florence from Colorado are tough. As for east coast there are plenty of girls who could pull it out Kristin Price of NC State had a great outdoor season as well as Renee Metivier of Georgia Tech. I think it could go to anyone. I have raced all these girls and it is going to be a close race but should be a blast to watch.(or race in)

gotta go with fleshman regarding consistemcy and lack of injury...metevier and also price will be in the hunt! By the way anna, do you know anything if alison tubbs is heathy this year going into UW?? She ran faster at great america than all the college girls including BYU and NC State runners,around 16:55 on a rough course!!..(I know you go to WSU.)

colorado, of course. nc state's price, if she is healthy, has to be considered a heavy favorite to win the individual crown. bc's cicero and guiney(s), byu's manova, gt's metivier, su's fleshman, yale's o'neill, and cu's austin and gorton should all be in the hunt, too.

I posted this before on Dyestat, but I'll put it up here again, maybe it will get some more input. I believe Colorado and Molly Huddle will take the individual crowns.

Who's coming back

I took some time to look at the last year's top 10 teams' websites to see who is returning and who is new to the squads. Remember though that this is only a tentative list and is does not take into account who will redshirt this year. Please let me know of any ommissions or mistakes. The numbers in parentheses are places the athletes took in last year's NCAA meet.

1. BYU;

Returns - Michaela Manova (5), Jessie Kindschi (7), Lindsay Thomsen (23), Sarah Taylor (24), Nan Evans (36), Amy Bair (45); Loses - Tara Northcutt (9);

Gains - ???

2. North Carolina State -

Returns: Kristin Price (4), Megan Coombs (13), Josi Lauber (173); Loses - Katie Sabino (21), Christy Nichols (50), Beth Fonner (94), Beth Kraft (97);

Gains - Lucinda Hull (transfer from Lehigh), Renee Gunning (transfer from Villanova, 103rd in NCAAs last year), Kara Price (redshirt), Erin Swain (redshirt), Abagail Nelkie (redshirt), Ginger Wheeler (redshirt), Amy Arnold, Jessica Durant, Julia Lucas (NSIC mile champion), Kristina Roth (16th at Footlocker)

3. Georgetown -

Returns: Jill Laurendeau (14), Marni Kruppa (37), Erin Sicher (43), Amanda Pape (46), Nicole Lee (84), Jodee Adams-Moore (112), Colleen Kelly (145)

Loses: nobody

Gains: Erin Henry (multiple NJ state champion) and a couple of other decent freshmen who will probably redshirt

4. Arizona -

Returns: Beth Hoge (32), Kim Bates (77), Nicole Gurnicz (138)

Loses: Tara Chaplin (1), Abby Peters (55), Jennifer Burris (82), Erin Doherty (85)

Gains: Amber Steen (I think she redshirted last year), but no new freshmen

5. Stanford -

Returns: Lauren Fleshman (3), Alicia Craig (28), Erin Sullivan (52), Sara Bei (89), Mariel Ettinger (126);

Loses: Laura Turner (87), Caroline Annis (155);

Gains: Anita Siraki (back from injury), Julie Allen (11th at Footlocker);

6. Boston College -

Returns: Maggie Guiney (10), Maria Cicero (16), Julie Spolidoro (107), Jennifer Kramer (119), Jennifer Donovan (183)

Loses: Katie Ryan (39)

Gains: Cate Guiney (back from injury - hopefully!!!), Laurel Burdick (22nd at Footlocker)

7. North Carolina -

Returns: Shalane Flanagan (22), Carol Henry (38), Erin Donohue (60), Rebecca Walker (120), Liz Awtrey (185), Nicole Boykin, Alice Schmidt

Loses: Kim Timberlake (58), Beth George (211)

Gains: ??

8. Colorado -

Returns: Molly Austin (8), Tera Moody (88), Natalie Florence (100), Hilary White (161)

Loses: Jodie Hughes (40), Lesley Higgins (69), Anna Wright (224)

Gains: Sara Gorton (I think she redshirted), Erika Odlaug (2nd at Footlocker), Jackie Zeigle (7th at Footlocker), Laura Zeigle

9. Virginia -

Returns: Dawn Cleary (92), Meghan McGarvey (96), Ellen Dwyer (121), Jolene Hampson (219)

Loses: Jennifer Owens (6), Sara Folse (72), Megan Schwartz (176)

Gains: Shannon Hawrylo (redshirt?), Kara Scanlin (15th at Footlocker)

10. Providence -

Returns: Roisin McGettigan (53), Deirdre Byrne (114), Emer O'Shea (157), Lisa Cappello (196), Mary Cullen (214)

Loses: Claire Shearman (33), Kathryn Casserly (66)

Gains: Heather Cappello (back from injury), Emily Tallen (back from injury)

Since then, I've also heard BYU loses Sara Taylor... That puts their chances of defending the title in some jeopardy.

BTW, Molly Huddle ran a 16:22 5K road race today to break the national 17-yr old record by 40 seconds. She should have no problem with transition to college XC.

jersey guy, the sister of famed byu runner courtney pugmire (now meldrum) is attending BYU next year out of cali and has a 4:54 mile to her credit off soccer training and mininal years of track...should be a good one.

Southern California High School Action

CIF Southern Section Finals.

Girls 1600m Division I

1. Shalice Pugmire (12) Esperanza 4:54.93

2. Liza Pasciuto (10) Murrieta Valley 4:56.74

3. Bethany Nickless (11) Fountain Valley 4:58.01

4. Leslie Kirby (10) Upland 5:04.69

5. Alison Costello (11) Esperanza 5:05.67

6. Brenda Martinez (9) Rancho Cucamonga 5:06.43

She was also 8th in the Great American XC race (San Francisco) last fall in 19:07, 1:46 behind Trotter. Could be a factor for BYU indeed, but with the strength they have, she might not even make top 7 her frosh year.

I'm thinking that Colorado has got to be higher. I realize they are freshmen heavy and that will be difficult especially with the way Wetmore works them hard in his program, but the Zeigle twins have a heavy background and should fit right in with high mileage. I don't see why they can't produce right away, and as far as credentials, Jackie was 7th at footlocker, but Laura was hurt. She's had some not-great races for her, but she has run a 16:29 5K. Tops in the world for a freshman.

whatever became of the once-precocious courtney meldrum (nee pugmire)?

i believe that where colorado (as well as the rest) falls in the list posted by jersey guy is merely indicative of their finish last year at ncaa xc, since jersey guy starts the post by listing colorado as his favorite for the team title.

Yes, I just listed last year's top 10 teams in order.

I think the top contenders will be Lauren Fleishman, Kristin Price, Melissa Gulli, and Sarah Gorton. I don't see a freshman winning but I it could happen.

Molly Huddle will not win NCAA's as a freshman. She is good, but just as one example, look at Fleshman. She ran 9:07 indoor 3k and a 15:35 outdoor 5k. Huddle is not near that. Manova from BYU ran a 9:50 3k steeple or something like that. Huddle is not near that. Yeah, huddle is good, but there are a few in the NCAA who are better. I honestly believe that Fleshman may try for a championship each season this year. She has the talent and training if she is healthy. I think Price, Flanagan, Metivier or Manova could spoil those plans in XC. I have no doubt that BYU can repeat. I also believe that CU, NC State or a healthy Stanford team could steal the title.

Laura Zeigle, though injured this year for Footlocker, placed 3rd the year before. She has always been a little better than Jackie I think.

Have you ever seen tubbs? Look at picture and you tell me if she is healthy I think if she decides to eat at some point then she could be good again, but I don't know what the deal with her is I know she is about 70lbs and doesn't look healthy.

Actually I wnat to retract my last statment, The last time I saw Allison Tubbs which was about 6 months ago she wasn't looking healthy. I know after I saw her she had some stress fracture problems and (I do not know for sure) but I have a friend who trains with her who said she has eating problems. If this is the case and they are as sever as I have heard she may not ever run that fast again.

yeah tubbs is waaaay too skinny and nobody is naturally that frail/sickly. No good college runners at the top level look like that last and for more than one season!! I pull for strong runners like metevier and fleshman!!

Courtney Meldrum (nee Pugmire) concluded a great NCAA career at BYU and I believe has since had her second child. I would not rule out her making another big splash on the national scene in the future. With her tremendous strength, as shown with the CC and steeple success, I could see her really excelling at the longer distance races. I've never seen another runner with the determination and will of Courtney.