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Top 25 DI Women's Cross Country Teams 11/3 - college.runnerspace.com Rankings.

Published by
DyeStatCOLLEGE.com   Nov 4th 2014, 1:59am
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1. Michigan State - O'Connor has won the last two races and now looks like an NCAA individual contender. Big 10 was easier than expected with Finn from Michigan out.  The Spartans dominated Wisconsin Adidas and regional powers including Iowa State at Roy Griak after taking 5 of the first 22 spots.  The deepest and most experienced team (8 NCAA returners) in the women's competition. Preview -  Michigan State

2. Oregon - Won Pac-10 as Neer ran her first race and Frida Berge established herself as a potential #1. Finished 2nd at Pre-Nationals and won Washington meet against Stanford team. There is still a rumor that Baxter will run this year especially with trophy and a possible national championship in their sites.  Oregon ran tough enough at Pre-Nationals to indicate they could finish second at NCAAs with Baxter and/or Neer. Preview - Oregon.  Oregon has admitedly come a long way since the beginning of the season.

3. Arkansas - Nice 1-2 finish at SEC.  All 5 were in the top 10. They have room for improvement behind Scott and Heymsfield.  Coach Harter will get them to peak for regionals and nationals.  This team could win it all. 

4. Georgetown - Although they were a big favorite they scored an unexpected 19 points at Big East as Villanova did not challenge.  Took round 2 in battle against Michigan at Pre-Nationals with close victory.  They defended their title from last year.  Preview - Georgetown.  

5. Iowa State - Crystal Nelson created a surprise by winning Wisconsin Adidas.  Moen wasn't too far behind in 5th. They followed that with a 1-2 finish at Big 12 championships. At Wisconsin Adidas they led their team to a 3rd place finish.  The Cyclones need improvement from their #4-#5 runners, a situation which has already cost them two chances at challenging MSU. They were 2nd at Griak to MSU.  Preview -  Iowa State

 6. Michigan - They finished third at Big 10 with Erin Finn out of the race.  Lost round 2 in battle against Georgetown at Pre-Nationals.  They will finally get to face their in-state rival and Wisconsin at the Big 10 Championships.  Handily won Battle in Beantown against Georgetown.  Preview - Michigan

7. Wisconsin - Coach Byrne has been impressed with their improvement this year.  Disanza led the team to a runner-up finish at Big 10s.  They have 6 returners from team that finished 21st at '13 NCAAs. They are a young team and did well at their Adidas invitational to run fourth.  Preview - Wisconsin.  

8. New Mexico - The Lobos won another Mountain West title.  Before the conference meet they couldn't put two races together (6th at Wisconsin) but hard for anyone, see FSU.  They dominated Notre Dame with Arter at the front.  They could really challenge if '13 top runner Silva weren't redshirting.  

9. Stanford - Cranny had a nice runner-up finish behind current NCAA favorite Houlihan. Cranny ran well again at Wisconsin Adidas.  Group behind Cranny (4 freshman total) ran their best race at Washington XC Invitational, but not as well in Wisconsin (7th) or Pac-12 where they were also a runner-up.  

10. North Carolina - Lehardy finished fourth at ACC to lead the Tarheels to upset of the Seminoles.  Lehardy did not run as well at Wisconsin Adidas but team still finished 11th.  They had a good front pack at Wisconsin and Roy Griak and #4-#5 not set up yet, but that changed at ACC.  Preview -  North Carolina.

11. West Virginia - The Mountaineers finished 2nd at Big 12.   They waited for Wisconsin Adidas to run hard and it payed off with a fifth place finish.  Sophomore Jillian Forsey helped push the pace and finished 11th as she has improved significantly this year (#2 Mountaineer at '13 NCAA championships).  

 12. Colorado - Without their top two returners from the NCAA meet, coach Wetmore has ralliied the team behind sophomore Erin Clark.  The team was third at the Pac-12 meet.  Clark ran great at Rocky Mountain Shootout and now Pre-Nationals.  They were well behind the top 3 teams at Pre-Nationals but all three teams came into the meeting in the top 6 nationally.  

13. Florida State - North Carolina kept the Seminoles from earning a 7th straight ACC title.  Florida State is running tired.  This strategy has worked in the past. This team has the pieces to get a trophy. Outside of Quigley, who has run very well, waiting for the rest of the team to race to potential.  Preview -  Florida State

14. Washington - They finished fourth at Pac-12 championships and not too far from Colorado.  They finished 13th at Wisconsin Adidas as #1 Meyers fell back to 37th after being up front early.  They finised 3rd at Washington Invitational. Still haven't run Nealle or Knight, top returners.  Four of their freshmen gained valuable experience at Wisconsin Adidas.  

15. Iona - Easily the top performance of the week was the return and domination by Kate Avery (19:15) at MAAC championships.  They easily won the conference title and they would have finished ninth if she had run at Wisconsin Adidas.  

16. Virginia - They finished third at ACC. This is an NCAA veteran team (9th in 2013) looked solid early and dominated at Panorama Farms in spite of the fact four of last year's top 5 have not contributed.  They must overcome their performance at Washington Invite at Wisconsin Adidas (9th).  In spite of unmet expectations lately they have had enough success and ability to qualify automatically or as an at-large.   Preview - Virginia

17. Vanderbilt - A solid second at SECs. 9th at Wisconsin Adidas with veterans. They are having success with pack running.

18. Syracuse - They finished 8th (162) at the ACC meet but would have finished alone in 6th by scoring two points better.  The Orange were not keeping as tight a pack at Wisconsin adidas (12th) or ACC (1-5, 1:29) as when they were 3rd at Battle in Beantown with first five within :39.  Preview -  Syracuse.  

19. Ohio State - They have run well all year.  They were fourth at Big 10 meet, 14th at Wisconsin Adidas and won Bluegrass.  Katie Borchers is a strong #1 runner.  

20. Boise State - 2nd at Mt. West nd #3-#5 falling further back from Bates and HAstings.  17th at Wisconsin Adidas and fourth at Roy Griak.  Good 1-2 but need 4 and especially #5. #3-#7 are Sophomores or Freshmen.  Experience from racing will help at the end of the season.  

21. Dartmouth - They won the Ivy League championships after disappointing 19th at Wisconsin Adidas. Giordano is running well as #1, 2-4 doing well too but need #5.  They need a good performance from their #5 to make it past the Regional meet.

22. Villanova - I thought they had a shot at the Big East title but they did not run well (4th) and Providence and Butler ran closer to pre-season expectations.   Buttner ran well at Washington Invitational, team developing a good top 3 but not everyone running well at the same time. Ran at Princeton Invite. Preview -  Villanova.  

23. Baylor - The Bears were third at the Big 12 meet.  If they could have moved their #5 runner up they would have battled West Virginia for second.  They finished 7th at Pre-Nationals with a great win by Rachel Johnson.  She is a contender for the national title.  They were fifth at the deep Roy Griak meet.  They must develop depth behind Johnson to make NCAA meet.  Preview - Baylor.  Big 12 meet will be a good test for this team.  
24. NC State - Finished an expected fourth at ACC and 5th at Pre-Nationals. Thompson is leading a good team that could move up with a good #5. 

25. Princeton - Megan Curham challenged for the title at Pre-Nationals and won the Heps.  They finished second at Ivy League and team was 6th at Pre-Nationals.  The full team needs to move up as #4-#5 were far enough back to cost Ivy League team title.    

 

Also considered

Providence - Rocha was runner-up at Big East and team finished second.  Still no Collins and probably trained through Wisconsin Adidas.  Freshman Lembo is developing, but not a great performance by the team (24) at Wisconsin Adidas.  With Collins this could be a top-10 team.  


Minnesota - 5th at Big 10 and 15th at Wisconsin Adidas.  

William & Mary - Won Colonial without Stites again.  27th at Wisconsin Adidas (without #1 runner Stites).  Most important is the Regional meet and that should be easy with their experience. Five returners from team that finished 12th last year.  With Stites they would have finished in top 10.  

Oklahoma State - They finished a well-back fourth at Big 12. Developed depth since last year to go with Monika Juodeskaite.  Last year they had three freshmen in top 4.  2013 NCAA 1500 champion Pillusina was entered at the Bronco Invite but didn't run.  With her they could challenge for a trophy along with #3-#5 runner development.  
Butler - Team was third at the Big East championships on their home course.  29th at Pre-Nationals, team has likely left it to a top-2 performance at regionals.  Top team not running where they will at end of the season. Resulted in a disastrous 14th at Roy Griak.  

UCLA - They finished fifth at Pac-12 championships.  They were 20th at Wisconsin Adidas.  They joined the men with a great meet in Seattle (4th).  Smith ran well in front and good pack behind them. Top 5 has 4 seniors.  

Boston College - 21st at Wisconsin Adidas.  Now have to rely on next two meets to make NCAA meet. Westphal won Battle in Boston but team finished fourth and 4-5 a concern.  

Underlined Teams have preview articles hyperlinked

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