BYU
2001 Finish: First Return: Michaela Manova (5), Jessie Kindschi (7), Lindsey Thomsen (23), Nan Evans-Kennard (36), Amy Bair (45), Kassi Andersen (redshirt), Kristen Ogden (redshirt), Breanne Sandberg (redshirt), Jamie Lynn Cottle, Devra Vierkant Lose: Tara Northcutt (9), Sarah Bea-Taylor(24) Additions: Angela Benson (transfer), Kristy Barrus, Shalice Marie Pugmire
Outlook: The defending NCAA Champion Cougars return three All-Americans in Michaela Manova, Jessie Kindschi and Lindsey Thomsen. U.S. Junior Cross Country team member and 1,500m All-American, Kassi Andersen and transfer Angela Benson, a former junior college national champion, highlight a talented new bunch capable of offsetting the loss of No. 3 and No. 5 runners Tara Northcutt and Sarah Bea-Taylor. Nan Evans-Kennard and Amy Blair bolster the front of the pack, while accomplished track runners Jamie Lynn Cottle and Devra Vierkant supply the necessary depth.
Coach’s Comments: “We have lots of talent, lots of depth and athletes who have proven that they know how to get the job done at the national level. But this only means that on paper we look good and have depth. It doesn’t win you a national championship, and it doesn’t garner you a single All-American award. We have to be ready to run in November. If we stay healthy and run well in November, we’ll find out how good we really are.” – Patrick Shane
NC State
2001 Finish: Second Return: Kristin Price (4), Megan Coombs (13), Josianne Lauber (173), Sarah Graybill, Diana Henderson, Janelle Vadnais, Kara Price (redshirt), Jennifer Modliszewski (injured), Ginger Wheeler (redshirt) Lose: Katie Sabino (21), Christy Nichols (50), Beth Fonner (94), Beth Kraft (97) Additions: Renee Gunning (transfer), Amy Arnold, Kelly Brown, Jessica Durant, Lucinda Hull, Julia Lucas, Liz Jackson, Kristina Roth
Outlook: With the injury of Georgia Tech’s Renee Metivier, last year’s runner-up at nationals, NCAA 10,000m Champion Kristin Price has emerged as a leading contender for the individual title. The Wolfpack lose four of their top seven runners to graduation, but are helped by the addition of transfer Renee Gunning and Foot Locker finalist Kristina Roth.
Coach’s Comments: “We have tremendous leadership returning for us up front, but we also lost a big chunk of what made us an NCAA second-place team. The challenge for us will be to make the progress we need in order to keep the team at that level. We have a lot of good athletes returning this year, and even for some of the younger athletes who didn’t play a big role, last year was a chance to learn what it takes to move to another level nationally.” – Rollie Geiger
Georgetown
2001 Finish: Third (first in Big East)
Return: Jill Laurendeau (14), Marni Kruppa (37), Erin Sicher (43), Amanda Pape (46), Nicole Lee (84), Jodee Adams-Moore (112), Colleen Kelly (145), Treniere Clement, Emily Reaman, Sarah Scholl, Allison Snyder, Rose Wetzel
Lose: Emily Enstice, Carly Nuzbach Additions: Kim Malcolm, Erin Henry, Sabine Knothe
Outlook: Providing senior middle-distance stars Jill Laurendeau and Erin Sicher replicate last season’s success and All-American Marni Kruppa remains healthy, winning a trophy at nationals seems almost assured. But exactly which trophy the team brings back to the Hilltop will depend on the level of competition the Hoyas face at nationals. Junior Amanda Pape has shown tremendous improvement throughout the past two seasons, and sophomore Nicole Lee should enter 2002 with added poise after competing in last year’s NCAA and World Cross Country Championships. Sophomore Jodee Adams-Moore scored for the Hoyas in several regular season meets last year, and according to Coach Helmer, has made extensive progress over the off-season. Coming off an impressive outdoor track season, junior Colleen Kelly may be embarking on her breakout year in cross country.
Coach’s Comments: “Based on what I’ve seen at this point, there’s no doubt that we’ll find seven people, by the end, that can run really, really fast and give us a chance to have as good, or better, a cross country team than we’ve ever had.” – Ron Helmer
Arizona
2001 Finish: Fourth Return: Beth Hoge (32), Kim Bates (77), Nicole Gurnicz (138) Lose: Tara Chaplin (1), Abby Peters (55), Jennifer Burris (82), Erin Doherty (85) Additions: Amber Steen
Outlook: The Wildcats will be forced to rebuild in 2002 after graduating defending champion Tara Chaplin and three other members of its scoring five.
Coach’s Comments: “I think it’s very uncertain at this point where our women’s cross country team stands. We lost a majority of our team from last year, so this year it’ll be a brand new group. Last year will not be any indication of how we will do this year. We lost four of our top five, and five of our top seven runners from last year and have an extremely young team. We are not short of talent. However, we are extremely young and lack experience.” – James Li
Stanford
2001 Finish: Fifth Return: Lauren Fleshman (3), Alicia Craig (28), Erin Sullivan (52), Sara Bei (89), Mariel Ettinger (126), Anita Siraki (injured), Malindi Elmore, Jeane Goff, Lindsay Hyatt Lose: Laura Turner (87), Caroline Annis (155), Victoria Chang, aurica Carlucci Additions: Julie Allen, Yfa Kretzschmar, Rachel Urbina, Christine Concho
Outlook: Stanford has finished in the nation’s top five for the past seven consecutive years and will look to extend its tradition into 2002. All-American Erin Sullivan and former Foot Locker National Champion Sara Bei rebounded nicely on the track last spring after disappointing performances at cross country nationals, and former high school standouts Anita Siraki and Julie Allen are capable of stepping in for graduates Laura Turner and Caroline Annis. Senior Lauren Fleshman is among the favorites for an individual title.
Coach’s Comments: “We have great big meet experience [and] a small but talented incoming group. Lauren Fleshman will be a great frontrunner for this team. She is poised to take a crack at the NCAA individual cross country title. The key for the team this year is to stay healthy. If we can do that, we should have a solid season.” – Vin Lananna
Boston College
2001 Finish: Sixth (second in Big East)
Return: Maggie Guiney (10), Maria Cicero (16), Julie Spolidoro (107), Jennifer Kramer (119), Jennifer Donovan (183), Cate Guiney (injured) Lose: Katie Ryan (39)
Additions: Laurel Burdick
Outlook: After earning All-America honors last year in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, sophomore Maria Cicero has proven she’s a legitimate NCAA title contender. Maggie Guiney was 10th at nationals last year, and the healthy return of her twin sister Cate could earn BC three individual All-American awards. Burdick, 22nd at Foot Locker Nationals, was a highly touted recruit, and Spolidoro and Kramer finished in the top half of the NCAA field last year.
Coach’s Comments: “We want to win the Big East Championship and stay competitive at the national level. If we stay healthy, there is no way we can’t remain in the top-10 in the nation. We want to repeat as NCAA [Northeast] Regional champions this season as well, and I think those are very legitimate goals for this team.” – Randy Thomas
North Carolina
2001 Finish: Seventh Return: Shalane Flanagan (22), Carol Henry (38), Erin Donohue (60), Liz Awtrey (185), Nicole Boykin, Victoria Jackson, Bobbie Munson, Alice Schmidt
Lose: Kim Timberlake (58), Beth George (211)
Additions: Cassie King, Catalina Palfreman, Jessica Perry, Kristin Stroupe
Outlook: Shalane Flanagan led the NCAA Championship last year with just a half mile to go before struggling on the final hill and eventually falling back into 19th. If she runs a smarter race this year, and the team continues to improve at the rate they did over the indoor and outdoor track seasons, the Tar Heels could find themselves vying for a trophy. All-American steeplechaser Carol Henry has the talent to crack the top 25 this season, and Erin Donohue and former Northern Virginia prep star Liz Awtrey provide enough depth to put Carolina within contention.
Coach’s Comments: “Shalane came close to winning a national championship last year. She learned a valuable lesson at the NCAAs, and along with her Carolina teammates, is poised to improve at the championship this season.” – Michael Whittlesey
Colorado
2001 Finish: Eighth Return: Molly Austin (8), Tera Moody (88), Natalie Florence (100), Sara Gorton (redshirt), Kendall Grgas-Wheeler (redshirt) Lose: Jodie Hughes (40), Lesley Higgins (69), Anna Wright (224) Additions: Erika Odlaug, Jackie Zeigle, Laura Zeigle, Christine Bolf, Martha Langager, Sara Verschoor, Shannon Yessak
Outlook: With a recruiting class of this caliber, Colorado has stockpiled enough talent to rival its squad of two years ago, when they claimed a national championship. Erika Odlaug was debatably the nation’s top recruit, and twins Jackie and Laura Zeigle have instant All-American potential. Proven NCAA talents Molly Austin and Tera Moody will likely trail frontrunner Sara Gorton, who redshirted in 2001.
Coach’s Comments: “Erika is the most accomplished high school girl ever successfully recruited at Colorado. Although she was hampered with a foot injury her senior track season, if she’s healed and gets a training foundation under her, she’ll be one of the best freshmen in the country this year. [Sara Gorton is also] a very big talent. Finishing eighth as a freshman before redshirting last fall, only to come back in the spring and run the second fastest 5k ever at CU and set an indoor 3k school record speaks volumes. She will probably be a top-10 finisher at nationals.” – Mark Wetmore
Virginia
2001 Finish: Ninth Return: Dawn Cleary (92), Meghan McGarvey (96), Ellen Dwyer (121), Jolene Hampson (219), Shannon Hawrylo (redshirt), Melanie Mathews, Jane Maxwell Lose: Jen Owens (6), Sara Folse (72), Megan Schwartz (176) Additions: Emily Hampson, Kara Scanlin
Outlook: Although the Cavaliers graduate All-American Jen Owens and No. 2 runner Sarah Folse, an able cast of supporting harriers remains intact. Two-time Foot Locker National Finalist Kara Scanlin was a blue-chip recruit, and steeplechaser Dawn Cleary’s success on the track last spring may indicate a stronger finish at nationals than last year, where she was 92nd.
Coach’s Comments: “We’re looking for someone to step up as a first runner, but it’s nice to have the depth that we have as a team. Kara Scanlin has the ability to be really good and be in our top group.” – Jason Dunn
Note: Numbers next to runner’s names denote overall finish at 2001 National Cross Country Championships.
Providence
2001 Finish: 10th (third in Big East) Return: Roisin McGettigan (53), Deirdre Byrne (114), Emer O’Shea (157), Lisa Cappello (196), Mary Cullen (214), Heather Cappello (injured), Emily Tallen (injured) Lose: Claire Shearman (33), Kathryn Casserly (66) Additions: Katie Boyle
Outlook: The Friars, along with Boston College and Villanova, have the ability to make life difficult for the Hoyas in the Big East this year. Frontrunner Claire Shearman and No. 3 runner Kathryn Casserly have lost their eligibility, but grad student Heather Cappello and junior Emily Tallen are returning from injury.
Coach’s Comments: “We were 10th in the nation last year, and this year we expect to be even better. Georgetown is still the favorite to win the Big East, and it will be a battle between BC, Notre Dame and ourselves for second. We’ve made progress and hope to improve this year, but won’t even think about how we compare to Georgetown until after the Big East Championship. After that, we’ll have a better idea.” – Ray Treacy
Notre Dame
2001 Finish: 19th (fourth in Big East) Return: Lauren King (27), egan Johnson (130), Jennifer Handley (131), Jennifer Fibuch (154), Christi Arnerich (193), Muffy Schmidt (222), Julia Schmidt (230), Rachel Endress, Emily Showman, Katie Wales Lose: none Additions: olly Huddle, Stephanie Madia
Outlook: In addition to returning all seven of its runners, Notre Dame bagged two of the nation’s top recruits in national 3,200m record holder Molly Huddle and Foot Locker Finalist Stephanie Madia. Jennifer Handley, Megan Johnson and Jennifer Fibuch all turned in solid efforts at nationals last year, and sophomore Lauren King followed her All-American performance in cross country on the track last year with qualifying efforts in the indoor mile and outdoor 1,500m.
Coach’s Comments: “Our goal every year is to get better than we were the year before. Last year, the team did a great job of that. This year, we have a good starting off point, and realistically, we can be very good. We are at the point where we can compete with every team in the Big East, and that’s not easy.” – Tim Connelly
