Boise State impressed at Roy Griak with four runners not on the squad in 2014 (three are freshman). They dominated defending champion Michigan State 37 to 116. Coach Cory Ihmels is impressed and excited about the development. It will interesting to see what happens at Wisconsin Adidas, their next meet.

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 on October 2nd.         (1)

2.  Providence dominated the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown with Catarina Rocha and Sarah Collins running 3-4. Coach Flynn believes this team will score better through four runners than NCAA championship team in 2013. They were 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. Their next race is the New England Championships on October 10th. (4)

3. Boise State finally unveiled one of their top newcomers (Annie Bothma) and the freshmen were impressive at Roy Griak.  Coach Ihmels talked about this being the biggest moment yet for the program.  Freshmen Allie Ostrander and Annie Bothma went 2-3 and Brenna Peloquin (11th) was the #4 runner for the Broncos. They went 2-3-6-11-17-23. Many runners ran faster this year but this was weaker competition. It was still impressive with a 37 point score, by four runners not on the Boise State squad last year, to 116 for #10 Michigan State. Next for the Broncos is the Wisconsin Adidas Meet on October 16th. (unr)

4.  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.  (2)

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.   (3)

6.  Iowa State lost #1 runner Crystal Nelson to a redshirt due to a knee injury and personal reasons. They ran without their top five at Roy Griak and 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 Greater Louisville Classic October 3rd. (5)

7.  Stanford won their home invitational 39 to 58 over Cal Poly using runners competing for 5-7. The Cardinal 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 Washington Invitational on October 2nd.    (6)

8.  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.  (7)

9.  Georgetown did not run well (3rd with 134) and finished well back of Providence (42) and behind Syracuse (127). The same thing happened last year as they trained through the race and finished the season as one of the favorites at the NCAA meet (they finished fourth). They dominated the JMU open (5200m) led by senior Samantha Nadel in 18:37.3. The next race for the Hoyas is the Paul Short Run on October 2nd .  (8)

10. 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.   (9)

11.  Michigan State did not run nearly as well at Roy Griak as the did last year and were well back from Boise State in second (37 to 116).  They also did not have Lindsay Clark and Katie Landwehr, two of their top four runners, who are working to get back from injury. They dominated the Spartan Invitational with Rachele Schulist the winner. . Sophomore Erin McDonald won Jeff Drench the race for the Spartans (17:29.94). Next up for the Spartans is the Jayhawk Invitational on October 9th.           (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 easily won at home Panorama Farms Invitational with 30 points to 83 for Mississippi State.  Iona Lake (16:49.6 for 5000m) led a 1-2 Virginia finish with Cleo Boyd in second (16:59.6). They looked like they were in early season form and did not win a dual in the UVA duals.  Next is Wisconsin Adidas on October 16th. (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 happen 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 ran well at Roy Griak, as sophomore Bethan Knights won and freshman Marissa Williams made her debut, but were fifth (169) without Kelsey Santisteban again.  She has been entered but not run as Coach Sandoval is protecting her.  They 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 Sacramento State Cross Country Jamboree on October 3rd. (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. (17)

19. Syracuse were 2nd (127) behind #2 Providence (42) at the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown and led by Margo Malone, 2nd overall. The Orange 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 Wisconsin Adidas Invitational on October 16th.  (18)

20. Oklahoma State took five of the first 12 spots at the Cowboy Jamboree and edged Alabama 39-41.  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 for the Cowboys is the Crimson Classic on October 16th. (unr)

Also of interest

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. (19)

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 and Notre Dame Invitationals on October 2nd. 

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.

Alabama Rachel Reddy won her second straight race and almost helped the Crimson Tide to a second straight victory but lost to Oklahoma State at the Cowboy Jamboree. They are trying to tighten up a team that has a 1:06 separation from 1-5. Next for Alabama is the Crimson Classic on October 16th.

Women D1 cross country rankings