On paper, the women’s teams of Florida State and Oregon are pretty evenly matched. Each has a strong top three, with each individual vying for All-American finishes. Each squad has a trio of talented runners in their 4-5-6 spots and each has had success all season long, while coming up big at their respective regional races last weekend. So who has the edge?

Earlier in the season at Pre-Nationals, Florida State edged Oregon for the team title 72-87, so perhaps that win gives the Seminoles the edge, but the Ducks are really hitting their stride perfectly, so expect a battle similar to what happened last fall, when first and second place were separated by a mere eight points and 1-4 were only separated by 27 points.

Florida State enters Saturday’s competition on a very high note, as they easily won the South Regional 24-112 over Vanderbilt. The squad used a 1-2-3 finish from Violah Lagat (Bernard Lagat’s sister), Colleen Quigley and Amanda Winslow. Coming on strong behind them, Kayleigh Tyerman, Jessica Parry and Georgia Peel are creating a formidable group that could push the team to the top spot this season, after finishing a disappointing fourth last fall.

Coach Karen Harvey’s team is always tough. After their Pre-Nationals victory, the team won the ACC Championship and then the South Regional. They didn’t have to run all-out at regionals and will once again be challenging from the gun come Saturday.

Meanwhile, Oregon is turning it on at the right time. Senior front-runner Jordan Hasay, who is getting stronger every race it seems, is ready to challenge for a national title once again. The Ducks dominated the West Regional, finishing well ahead of co-runner-ups Arizona and Stanford 64-85. Oregon’s trio of up front talent in Hasay, Allie Woodward and Alexi Pappas allows the team to match Florida State stride for stride.

Where both teams have the most opportunity is of course where their 4-5-6 runners finish. Similar to Florida State, Oregon boasts an impressive 4-6 pack of Sarah Penney, Annie LeBlanc and Katie Conlon. After finishing second to Florida State at Pre-Nationals, Oregon stepped it up, taking home their first Pac-12 title since 1995, as they easily beat runner-up Arizona 47-69.

Not to be overlooked, there is a quartet of teams who could upset Florida State and Oregon for the title. For starters, Iowa State returns senior front-runners Betsy Saina and Meaghan Nelson, as the two can certainly lay claim to be the best 1-2 punch in the country. Saina will be shooting for individual gold, while Nelson will certainly contend for a top 10 finish.

Behind their talented duo, the Cyclones are led by Crystal Nelson, Sam Bluske and Katy Moen. Overlooked all season long, this team is on a mission to show they are legitimate title contenders. The team won the Wisconsin adidas Invitational by 75 points over runner-up Stanford, easily won the Big 12 Championship and then won the Midwest Regional by a 63-95 margin over Oklahoma State. Momentum is on their side.

While Oregon laid claim to the top spot both at the Pac-12 Championship and West Regional, Arizona and Stanford have been impressive all season long, and if either squad has an athlete or two step up on Saturday, they could find themselves challenging for the win.

Similar to Florida State and Oregon, each squad boasts a talented trio up front. Kathy Kroeger, freshman Cayla Hatton and Aisling Cuffe lead the Cardinal, while Jennifer Bergman, Elvin Kibet and Nicci Corbin lead the Wildcats. The key to both squads is how their 4-5 perform, but with solid depth on both squads, earning top four finishes is the standard and a first place finish is the goal.

The dark horse in the race for the championship is Michigan. Michigan? Yes, Michigan. The Wolverines finished third at Pre-Nationals, cruised to a Big Ten Championship, then dominated at the Great Lakes Regional by beating runner-up Michigan State 41-77.

Led by a trio of seniors in their top four, Michigan has the experience and poise to upset the field and claim the crown. Jillian Smith, Rebecca Addison, Shannon Osika and Lindsey Hilton ran 4-8-9-10 at regionals, while Big Ten 10^th place finish Amanda Eccleston sat out but will compete on Saturday. While they don’t necessarily have a top ten individual threat, their pack is what could win it. Their strong, they run well as a group and Michigan has the talent to pull off the surprise victory in Louisville.

The depth in this year’s team race is as strong as ever. Last year’s finish was outstanding, with four teams duking it out the entire race, everything being decided over the final sprint to the finish. While 2011 was a year to remember, the 2012 edition of the NCAA Cross Country Championships could produce even more theatrics, more surprises and come Saturday we’ll be seeing a new women’s team champion. Which team will it be?

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