New Mexico and Iowa State start to Separate Themselves on Paper

Published by Adam Schneider on September 21, 2015

Many teams ran well this weekend and showed us what they have on their team (see Michigan, Michigan State, Villanova, Notre Dame, and Penn). The picture is muddied however on who the trophy winners will be. New Mexico and Iowa State seem to be a solid top two with Colorado and Providence good choices to trophy, for right now. Anyone in the top 11 can trophy, after that the teams need to show more of what they have to be considered. In saying that though, #13 Arkansas and #14 North Carolina State have been on the rise this month.

1.  New Mexico trains through Texas Tech open and runs runners who have a chance at top 7 including freshman Kendall Kelly (seventh) as senior Anna Burton (21st) leads a pack of New Mexico runners. The Lobos next race at Notre Dame Invitational on October 2.         (1)

2.  Iowa State ran without their top five at the Oz Memorial and finished second to Minnesota (33-37) as frosh Abby Caldwell led the Cyclones with a third place finish (21:56.8). Redshirt freshman Evelyne Guay (10:13.1) led the Cyclones (won with 17 points) on the 3000m course at Hawkeye Early Bird Invitational. Their next race is the Roy Griak Invitational on September 26th. (3)

3.  Colorado swept the Colorado State duals as 2014 #2 Maddie Alm was third in 17:38.2, Taylor Tuttle ran unattached for fourth in 17:39, and Melanie Nun ran in the pack with other Buffs. Next Race is the Rocky Mountain Shootout on October 3rd.  (4)

4.  Providence was perfect at Shawn Nassaney Invitational as Sara Collins and Briana Ilarda ran as part of the pack after the previous race where they took five of the first six spots against New Hampshire to dominate at UNH duals with Catarina Rocha wining the 5000m race in 17:28.5. Next for the Friars is the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown on September 25th. (5)

5.  Michigan dominated the Commodore Classic as expected with Erin Finn way ahead in first (16:43.4 over 5000m) and Shannon Osaka debuted, but still no Taylor Mannett (57th in 2013). They took six of the first eight and seven of the first ten at the Eastern Michigan Celebration 5K. Next for Michigan is the Greater Louisville Classic October 3.   (6)

6.  Stanford used the short course (4200m) Fresno State Invitational as a fast workout. Graduate Aisling Cuffe ran in her first cross country race in almost 2 years. Next up for the Cardinal is the Stanford Invitational on September 26th.    (7)

7.  Oregon’s first three ran well at Bill Dellinger in a race before training camp starts at Sunriver, led by sophomore Alli Cash in 20:27.5. The Ducks ran without three of their top six. Their next race is the Washington Invitational on October 2nd.  (8)

8.  Georgetown dominated the JMU open (5200m) led by senior Samantha Nadel in 18:37.3. Next for the Hoyas is the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown on September 25th .  (9)

9. Wisconsin dominated the Iona College Meet of champions as Shaley Sorensen got another victory with a group battling for spots 6 and 7 on the team.  Redshirt freshmen Sorensen and Erin Wagner went 1-2 at Badger Opener (21 without top 3).  Next for the Badgers is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3.   (10)

10.  Michigan State dominated the Spartan Invitational with Rachele Schulist the winner.  Lindsay Clark did not run and we suspect she is the injured Spartan that coach Drenth hinted at before the start of the season.  Without her they will have to battle to get a trophy. Sophomore Erin McDonald won Jeff Drench the race for the Spartans (17:29.94). Next up for the Spartans is the Roy Griak Invitational on September 26.           (2)

11. Washington impressed at Sundodger Invitational going 2-5 with freshmen Charlotte Prouse and Lindsey Bradley in that group. They verified their position and may move up depending on their next two meets. In their first meet they took the first 10 spots at the UW-Seattle Open led by Emily Hamlin (16:42.23) ahead of Charlotte Prouse (16:42.36). Next for the Huskies is the Washington Invitational on October 2nd.    (11)

12. Virginia looked like they were in early season form and did not win a dual in the UVA duals.  Next is Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational on September 26. (12)

13. Arkansas was led by Sydney Brown and Claudia Verstraeten (3-4) at Missouri Southern Stampede and they easily won. They dominated the UC Riverside Invitational without top runner senior Dominique Scott. Freshman Devin Clark (3rd at 2014 NXN) was second overall in the 6000m race and freshman Claudie Verstaten (17:32.10) was the top collegian and led the Arkansas middle distance runners over the 5000m course. Clark looks like a solid #2 for the Razorbacks. Their next meet is the Chili Pepper Festival on October 3rd. (13)

14. North Carolina State must be very happy to have the Frazier sisters. They went 1-2 at the Adidas XC Challenge (Ryen won and Wesley had to run unattatched). Freshman Rachel Koon was third overall. Dominating performance by the Wolfpack as they took five of the first six places (Wesley won’t be able to run cross country for the Wolfpack this year). Their next race is Notre Dame Invitational on October 2nd. (17)

15. West Virginia used none of their top seven at Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational and finished third then ran the WVU Open relay race as only one of their top seven ran. Their next race is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3rd. (14)

16. California dominated the San Francisco XC Invitational with 2014 #1, Bethan Knights, running away from the competition (17:29.1 over 5000m) as none of the freshmen or Santisteban ran. Next for the Golden Bears is the Roy Griak Invitational on September 26th. (15)

17. William and Mary took the first three spots at their home invitational as sophomore Regan Rome won ahead of senior Emily Stites and sophomore Molly Breidenbaugh was off the pace.  Five of their top six ran at CNU 10k cross country relay. The Tribe’s next race is the Princeton Inter-Regional on October 3rd.   (16)

18. Penn State won the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe (21-34) as Tori Gerlach won (21:01.1) and redshirt freshman Tessa Barrett (6th in 21:43.0) was #4 for the Nittany Lions. Next for Penn State is the Greater Louisville Classic October 3rd. (18)

19. Syracuse was second to Penn State at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe (21-34) with the Orange’s Margo Malone second over 6k (21:10.9). At Harry Lang (4800m) graduate transfer Cassia Hameline (St. Lawrence) won the race in 17:17 Next race is the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown on September 25th.  (19)

20. Villanova ran their top seven at the Main Line Invitational and freshman Bella Burda was their #2 runner and they barely beat Penn 35-36.  They rested six of their top seven at Big 5 Invitational and finished second. Next for the Wildcats is the Princeton Inter-Regional meet on October 3rd. (20)

Also of interest

North Carolina was crushed at the Adidas XC Challenge after not running many of their top runners and finished as a pack and seventh overall. They dominated the Homie Invitational with Josette Norris (13:53.11 for 40000m) starting to show her talent with her win. Their next meet is the Princeton Inter-Regional on October 3rd. 

Penn finished second at the Main Line Invitational (35-36 to Villanova) as they put their top five in the first 13. They won the Big 5 title as their top five has run well as a pack. Their next meet the squad is split at the Paul Short Run and Notre Dame Invitationals on October 2nd. 

Texas rested their top seven at the Baylor Bear Twilight and their next race is the Texas A&M Invitational on September 26th. 

Oklahoma State returns injured runners from last year and looked good at the Cowboy Preview. Igbeborg Loevnes won the race and is expected to be #1 and the emergence of freshman Katie Spencer could put them into the top 20. Next is the Cowboy Jamboree on September 26th.

Notre Dame dominated the National Catholic Championship (20 to 84 over Xavier) as freshman Anna Rohrer won the 5000m race (17:20.7) and the Irish were second at the Crusader Open with runners looking to make the top seven. Their next race is the Notre Dame Invitational on October 2nd.

Boise State already unveiled freshman Taylor Ostrander and she impressed with a victory.  Transfer Minttu Hukka (2014 Southland champion) has already run well and Emma Hyppa (114th at NCAAs last year) has yet to start along with South African Annie Bothma.  Their first race as a group is Roy Griak on September 26th and they could win. 

Women D1 cross country rankings