Stanford's Derrick eyes another run of success at NCAAs 
While sophomore could win individual title, his sights are set on the team crown

by Rick Eymer 
Palo Alto Online Staff

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Stanford sophomore Chris Derrick figures to be pretty familiar with the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind., by now. He's run the course quite a few times, including as a high school senior. He'll be looking to establish personal bests to go with the Cardinal team goal of winning a national title when the final race commences on the dedicated cross-country course on Monday morning. Derrick is one of the favorites (with, among others, Oklahoma State's German Fernandez) to win the individual title, but he'd be much happier if Stanford took the team title and his finish didn't matter, except for scoring purposes. "That would define the season," Derrick said. "It's what we've been talking about and working toward all year." The Cardinal women don't carry the same expectations this year despite a storied history that includes winning four of the past six national titles. Laurynne Chetelat, one of the nation's top distance runners, left Stanford after one year. The Athletic and Academic All-American, who attended Davis High, is reportedly headed for California. Derrick was seventh in the individual race and Stanford placed third in last year's championship. The four-time All-American (in track and cross country combined) said there's a difference working toward a team goal rather than an individual goal.