Trophy and Title Favorites Made Clearer After the Weekend

Published by Adam Schneider/DyeStatCOLLEGE.com Editor on November 16th, 2016

This weekend we saw an imitation of last year’s performances at the major region meets. Colorado played the role of New Mexico at last year’s NCAA D1 Mountain Region championships by running as a pack and still won their fourth consecutive title. 

There were a few interesting performances that could have an effect on the NCAA top 10 and possibly the teams in contention for trophies. 

North Carolina State and Stanford are the main threats to Colorado for the NCAA team title. North Carolina State rested injured Wesley Frazier at the NCAA D1 Southeast Region Championships. At the same time her sister Ryen Frazier continued her recovery from injury with a No. 2 perfomance for the team. After finishing third at the Pac-12 championships (behind Colorado and Washington), the Cardinal won the West Region Championships (ahead of Washington) as their freshmen have continued to improve without the help of top runner, sophomore Elise Cranny. 

1. Colorado - Last weekend the NCAA favorite won their fourth consecutive NCAA D1 Mountain Region title. The Buffaloes dominated New Mexico 35-109. Similar to how 2015 NCAA champion New Mexico ran last year at this meet, Colorado ran as a group without having to overextend themselves. Sophomore Makena Morley led Colorado with six finishers between fifth and 12th. As expected, the Buffaloes won their second consecutive Pac-12 title. Senior Erin Clark was runner-up to lead the Buffaloes ahead of sophomore Dani Jones (third) and junior Kaitlyn Benner (fourth). Makena Morley (ninth), freshman Sage Hurta (15th), junior Mackenzie Caldwell (16th) and senior Melanie Nun (17th) fill out a solid top 7. Colorado (33) dominated top 7 teams Washington (74), Stanford (83) and Oregon (88). Clark (11th at the 2015 NCAA championships) has been the No. 1 runner all year for Colorado. She led the Buffaloes to a win at Pre-Nationals (93-154 over Oregon) and won the Rocky Mountain Shootout. Benner (16th at the 2015 NCAA championships) was No. 2 until Pac-12. She was 12th at Pre-Nationals and 2nd at Rocky Mountain Shootout. Jones (49th at 2015 NCAA championships) had the best finish of her career at Pac-12s. She was No. 3 and 17th at Pre-Nationals and fourth at Rocky Mountain Shootout. Makena Morley (97th at the 2015 NCAA championships for Montana) was 26th at Pre-Nationals and third at Rocky Mountain Shootout. Sage Hurta has been the No. 5 runner all season. She was 36th at Pre-Nationals and won the Roadrunner invitational. Caldwell, Nun, freshman Tabor Scholl (26th at Pac-12s), and sophomore Taylor Tuttle (38th at Pac-12s) could all contribute in the finals. Next for Colorado is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th. (1)

2. North Carolina State - The Wolfpack dominated the NCAA D1 Southeast region (53 to 163 for Louisville and 164 for Kentucky) without Wesley Frazier in the lineup. Erica Kemp was second behind national championship contender Annie Bothma of Coastal Carolina. The Wolfpack ran as a pack with sophomores Ryen Frazier and Rachel Koon and junior Alyssa Rudaswky running 10th, 11th and 12th. Wesley Frazier opened her season by helping to lead the Wolfpack to the ACC title (53-74 over Notre Dame). Koon was fourth and junior Wesley Frazier was 10th. Rudaswky, freshman Ely Henes, and Ryen Frazier were 12th, 13th, and 14th as the Nos. 3-5 runners. Senior Erica Kemp (57th at the 2015 NCAA championships) had led the team all year long but finished well back in 26th as the No. 7 runner. Kemp (7th) led the team at the Nuttycombe to a second-place finish behind No. 3 Washington. Kemp was 8th at Notre Dame Invitational (5000m) to lead the team to a second-place finish behind No. 5 Providence. With the exception of being the top runner at the ACC championships Koon (59th at the 2015 NCAA championships) has been the No. 2 runner for the Wolfpack all year long. She was 18th in Wisconsin, 27th at Notre Dame and 5th at Adidas XC Challenge. Rudawsky (163rd at the 2015 NCAA championships) has been the Wolfpack's third all year. She finished 24th at Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational. Wesley Frazier could jumble this group after running well in her debut at the ACC championships. Ryen Frazier (108th at 2015 NCAA championships) is improving and was No. 5 at the ACC championships. The fourth was freshman Elly Henes and she was fifth at Wisconsin (71st) and Notre Dame (44th). Senior Megan Moye has been all over after running as No. 6 at ACC (25th), No. 4 at Wisconsin (46th), No. 3 at Notre Dame (31st) and Adidas XC Challenge (7th). Freshman Bethlehem Taye and junior Bianca Bishop could also join the team in the next two meets. If Kemp were to run the way she has run all year this team is clearly the second best and potentially best team in the country especially if the Frazier sisters continue to improve after late starts to their seasons. Next for North Carolina State is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th. (2)

3. Stanford - The Cardinal won the NCAA D1 West Regional (71-88 over Washington). Senior Vanessa Fraser (7th), freshman Fiona O’Keefe (13th) and senior Danielle Katz (14th) led a team that put five in the top 20. With sophomore Elise Cranny (12th in 2014) in the lineup, Stanford could challenge for the national title and at least is a trophy favorite but the team is improving without her and showing its depth. The Cardinal are now running three of their talented freshmen now that O’Keeffe (11th) debuted at the Pac-12 championships. Stanford is protecting Cranny’s injured foot but when she was in the lineup she won the Stanford Invitational and led the team to victory over Cal Poly SLO 37-46. She finished second to her teammate Vanessa Fraser at the USF invitational where the team finished second to host San Francisco 41-45 without their freshmen running. Vanessa Fraser (40th at 2015 NCAA championships) led the Cardinal at the Pac-12 championships (8th) to a third (83) place finish, she was No. 1 at Pre-Nationals (24th), and No. 2 at the Stanford Invitational (4th), in addition to the other meets. Behind O’Keeffe’s debut was freshman Christina Aragon (14th). She was No. 3 at Wisconsin (41st) in her debut and No. 2 at Wisconsin (29th) was senior Danielle Katz. She was No. 5 at Pac-12 championships (31st) and No. 3 at Stanford Invitational (6th) and USF (14th). Freshman Ella Donaghu was No. 4 at Pac-12 championships and also fourth in her debut at the Wisconsin Invitational. Sophomore Catherine Pagano and junior Abbie McNulty could help Stanford with the bigger meets. Next for Stanford is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.   (4)

4. Michigan - The Wolverines won a very difficult NCAA D1 Great Lakes Regional (61-91 over Notre Dame). Senior Erin Finn dominated the competition, including Notre Dame sophomore Anna Rohrer. Behind her the Nos. 2-5 runners had an 18-second gap. That group was led by juniors Gina Sereno (8th) and Avery Evenson (9th).  Finn has lost to one runner all year long and she will challenge for the NCAA individual title. She won her third Big 10 title in Minnesota to lead the Wolverines over Penn State 63-70. Finn won Pre-Nationals to lead the Wolverines to a third-place finish with 179 (behind Colorado’s 93 and Oregon’s 154). She led Michigan to victory at the Greater Louisville Classic with another individual victory on the 5000m course. Sereno (90th at 2015 NCAA championships) was No. 2 for the Wolverines at the Big Ten championships (4th), No. 3 at ISU Pre-Nationals (49th), No. 2 at the Greater Louisville Classic (5th) and Roy Griak Invitational (25th). Evenson was No. 3 at Big Ten Championships (14th), No. 2 at ISU Pre-Nationals (22nd), and No. 4 at Greater Louisville Classic (18th). Junior Jamie Phelan (100th at 2015 NCAA championships) was No. 4 at Big Ten championships (19th), No. 7 at Pre-Nationals (93rd), and No. 5 at Greater Louisville Classic (20th). Junior Jamie Morrissey (180th at 2015 NCAA championships) was fifth at Big Ten Championships (25th), No. 4 at Pre-Nationals (51st), and No. 3 at Greater Louisville Classic (14th). Sophomore Claire Borchers, junior Hannah Meier, and freshman Madeline Trevisan could contribute to the next two meets. as part of the top 7. Next for Michigan is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.    (5)

5. Washington - Junior Amy-Eloise Neale seems to be all the way back after winning her first Pac-12 title and just this weekend the NCAA D1 West Region title. She has improved throughout the season and the team was second to Stanford at the West Region championships by a 71-88 margin. While Neale is improving, the rest of the team has been falling further behind. The Huskies were well back in second at the Pac-12 meet (33-74 behind Colorado) but it is clear that they were affected by the conditions. Neale has been the top finisher for the Huskies the last two races. She was fourth at Wisconsin Invitational to lead the team to victory (124-166 over No. 2 North Carolina State, with 170 for Providence), second for the team at the Washington Invitational as they won the team title over Oregon 24-57. Sophomore Charlotte Prouse (78th at 2015 NCAA championships) was No. 2 at Pac-12 championships, finishing sixth. She won the Washington Invitational and Sundodger meets. Junior Katie Knight was No. 3 at Pac-12 championships (19th), No. 7 at Wisconsin Invitational (50th), and No. 3 at Washington Invitational (fifth). Freshman Kaitlyn Neal was No. 4 at Pac-12 championships (21st), No. 3 in Wisconsin (34th), and No. 4 at Washington Invitational (seventh). Senior Kaylee Flanagan had an odd meet at Pac-12s (64th) as ninth for UW but in other meets she was fourth in Wisconsin (36th) and sixth at the Washington Invitational (17th). Same thing for freshman Nikki Zielinski as she was No. 7 at Pac-12s (50th), No. 5 at Wisconsin (45th) and Washington Invitational (8th). Junior Isobell Batt-Doyle was the fifth at Pac-12 championships (28th), eighth at Wisconsin Invitational, and ninth at the Washington Invitational. Junior Anna Maxwell was No. 6 at Pac-12 championships (30th), Wisconsin and Washington Invitational. Sophomore Emily Hamlin was No. 8 for UW at the Washington Invitational but has struggled since. She could contribute at the NCAA championships. Next for Washington is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th. (3)

6. Providence - The Friars won the NCAA D1 Northeast Region championships (50-71 over Harvard). Senior Sarah Collins (fourth) and junior Brianna Ilarda (fifth) led the Friars. Providence held off Villanova 36-49 to win the Big East championships. Ilarda (third) and Collins (fourth) led the charge. Collins has led Providence all season until the Big East Championships. Collins (20th at 2015 NCAA championships) was 16th to lead the Friars to a third-place finish with 170 at the Wisconsin Invitational, and ninth at the Notre Dame Invitational to lead the team (117) to a win over North Carolina State (149), Eastern Michigan (159) and New Mexico (166). Ilarda (114th at 2015 NCAA championships) led the Friars at the Big East championships, she was No. 3 in Wisconsin (37th) and Notre Dame (26th). Junior Katie Lembo (101st at 2015 NCAA championships) did not run at ACC championships but was No. 2 in Wisconsin (27th) and No. 5 at Notre Dame (30th). Junior Millie Paladino was No. 3 at Big East (sixth) championships, No. 4 in Wisconsin (38th) and No. 2 at Notre Dame (24th). Freshman Abbie Wheeler was Providence’s No. 4 at Big East championships (eighth), No. 5 in Wisconsin (52nd), and No. 4 at Notre Dame (28th). Senior Lauren Mullins (15th at Big East) has not run as well as last year (62nd at 2015 NCAA championships) and junior McKenzie Barry (16th at Big East) could improve and contribute in the final. Senior Catarina Rocha (39th) has not raced yet but could join the group. Next for Providence is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.  (7)

7. Oregon - Junior Alli Cash (fifth) had her best race of the season ahead of freshman Katie Rainsberger (11th) and Samantha Nadel (15th) at the NCAA D1 West Regionals, with only regional champion Stanford having as many runners in the top 15. The Ducks were fourth (after winning last year) because of how tough the region is and a lack of depth. The Ducks finished fourth at the Pac-12 championships (88) as it was clear the conditions affected them. Katie Rainsberger (1st at 2015 NXN) was the leader of the Ducks as she has been all season. She was fifth at Pac-12 championships, sixth at Pre-Nationals to lead the Ducks to a runner-up finish behind Colorado 93-154, and second at the Washington Invitational (behind Washington 24-57). Alli Cash (31st at 2015 NCAA championships) had been hurt early on this season and had her best race at the Pac-12 championships (13th) as the No. 2 Duck and fourth at Pre-Nationals (48th). Samantha Nadel (37th at the 2014 NCAA championships) was No. 3 at Pac-12 (22nd), No. 2 at Pre-Nationals (13th), and No. 6 at Washington Invitational (18th). Junior Emma Abrahamson was No. 4 for the Ducks at the Pac-12 championships (23rd), No. 6 at Pre-Nationals (67th), and No. 4 at Washington Invitational (14th). Senior Maggie Schmaedick was Oregon’s No. 5 at the Pac-12 championships (25th), Pre-Nationals (53rd), and Washington Invitational (16th). Sophomore Jessica Hull was No. 6 at Pac-12 (27th), No. 3 at Pre-Nationals (34th), and No. 2 at Washington Invitational (12th). Senior Ashley Maton and junior Frida Berge may contribute in the final. Next for Oregon is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.  (6)

8. New Mexico - The Lobos qualified for the NCAA meet by finishing second at the D1 Mountain Region. Senior Alice Wright won the title with fellow senior Calli Thackery 11th (1-5 gap was 1:15). Injuries to seniors Rhona Auckland (13th at 2015 NCAA championships) and Elizabeth Weiler (38th in 2014) and the transfer of Heleene Tambet (74th) have derailed the Lobos' chances to repeat this year. Wright and Thackery went 1-2 at the Mountain West championships to lead the Lobos to victory. The 1-5 gap was 1:13 and without development behind Wright and Thackery it is unlikely the team will trophy in Indiana. Wright (fifth) and Thackery (15th) will compete for top spots at the NCAA meet. The Lobos were fourth at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational (207) led by Wright (second) and Thackery (ninth). They were fourth at Notre Dame Invitational behind Providence, North Carolina State and Eastern Michigan. Wright (second) and Thackery (fifth) ran well again. Next for New Mexico is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.  (5)

9. San Francisco - With the incoming transfer of Heleene Tambet, the Dons have eight returnees from the 2015 NCAA championships team that finished 28th. Team leader, senior Charlotte Taylor, returned to the team for the NCAA D1 West Region championships and finished second to lead the team (101) to a third-place finish. The Dons finished second at the WCC championships without Taylor (118th at 2015 NCAA champonships). San Francisco was sixth at the Wisconsin Invitational led by Taylor (10th) and Marie Bouchard (30th). They were sixth at the Roy Griak Invitational with Taylor leading them in ninth. Next for San Francisco is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.    (13)

10. Arkansas - The Razorbacks won the NCAA D1 South Central Regional 46-62 over Baylor. Sophomore Devin Clark won the regional title and freshman Taylor Werner (fifth) and senior Regan Ward (11th) made for a solid top three. They returned five of their top seven from the ninth place 2015 NCAA championships team. Top returnee Clark (48th) led them to another SEC title with her second-place finish. She was followed by freshman Abby Gray (ninth) and senior Valerie Reina (10th). Arkansas was fifth at Pre-Nationals led by Clark’s seventh-place finish. Next for Arkansas is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.    (10)

11. Penn State - The Nittany Lions won the NCAA D1 Mid-Atlantic Regional 36-93 over Villanova. Penn State finished second at the Big Ten Championships behind Michigan 63-70. The Nittany Lions were led by sophomore Tessa Barrett (third) and junior Jillian Hunsberger (seventh). They won the Penn State National Open ahead of Mississippi 47-94, as Barrett led a 1-2-3 sweep (with Elizabeth Chikotas and Hunsberger). At the Roy Griak Invitational they finished third 74-147 behind Portland, led by Hunsberger in ninth, Barrett in 12th and Chikotas in 13th. Next for Penn State is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th. (11)

12. Notre Dame - Sophomore Anna Rohrer (19:35) was second at the NCAA D1 Great Lakes Regional behind NCAA favorite Erin Finn. Sophomore Annie Heffernan (10th) and senior Danielle Aragon (13th) ran well to help the Irish earn an automatic team berth (2-5 gap of 36 seconds). The depth behind Rohrer has closed significantly and has boosted their chances of finishing in the top 10 as a team. Rohrer (sixth at 2015 NCAA championships) won her second race of the season in 19:26 at the ACC championships. The Irish finished second 53-74 behind North Carolina State at the ACC championships with a great performance by Annie Heffernan (sixth) and Danielle Aragon (ninth). Notre Dame finished ninth at the Wisconsin Invitational led by Rohrer’s third-place finish, (2-5 gap of 1:00). Rohrer won the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational to lead the Irish to eighth place. Rohrer (sixth), Heffernan (138th) and junior Rachel Dadamio (96th) provide valuable NCAA experience for Notre Dame entering the NCAA championship meet. Next for Notre Dame is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.   (18)

13. Portland - The Pilots were fifth (130) at the NCAA D1 West Region championships. Junior Lauren Larocco (fourth) led Portland, which had a 1-5 gap of 55 seconds, which has continued to expand. The Pilots (42) scraped by San Francisco (44) and BYU (47) to win the WCC title in spite of a 1-5 gap of 53 seconds. Lauren LaRocco won the title and has led Portland in every race this year. She was ninth at Pre-Nationals to lead Portland to 4th and the 1-5 gap was 48 seconds. LaRocco was third, senior Anne Lutjen was fifth and junior Parkes Kendrick was sixth at Roy Griak to lead Portland to the title. Next for Portland is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.   (9)

14. Baylor - The Bears ran a strong race at the NCAA D1 South Central Regional Championships to take second behind Arkansas 48-62. Their 1-4 gap was 30 seconds and 1-5 was 1:24, costing them the title. Senior Maggie Montoya (second) and freshman Lindsey Bradley (third) led Baylor. The Bears finished a surprising fifth at Big 12 championships. They were led by freshman transfer Bradley (fifth) and Montoya (sixth), but three of their runners did not finish. They were fifth at Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational with Montoya (11th) and Bradley (15th) leading the team. At Notre Dame, Joe Pain Invitational they finished fifth behind four teams currently ranked in the top 13. Next for Baylor is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.    (17)

15. Air Force - The Falcons have improved significantly at the end of this season. They finished third at the NCAA D1 Mountain Region behind Colorado and just short of New Mexico 109-111, led by junior Carina Gillespie (third) and sophomore Jaci Smith (fourth). Their 1-5 gap was 1:14. The Falcons were second at the Mountain West Conference Championships by a 42-53 margin behind New Mexico. Gillespie (third), senior Lindy Long (fifth) and Smith (sixth) led the Air Force and their 1-5 gap was 1:04. Led by Gillespie (14th), the Falcons were 10th at the ISU Pre-Nationals and the 1-5 gap was 1:43. Next for Air Force is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th. (unr)

16. Michigan State - The Spartans return to the top 20 after the re-emergence of senior Rachele Schulist (third), who led the team to third place (97) at the NCAA D1 Great Lakes Regional. Michigan State was third (80) at the Big 10 championships. Alexis Wiersma finished fifth and Rachele Schulist was ninth to lead the Spartans (1-5 gap of 55 seconds). The Spartans are led by Schulist (fourth in 2014), Wiersma (21st in 2015), and Shelby Jackson (79th in 2015) with experience at the NCAA meet, but the experienced depth they came into the season with has struggled. Next for Michigan State is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th. (unr)

17. Wisconsin - The Badgers finished fourth (broken tiebreaker with third-place Michigan State at 97) at the Great Lakes Regional held at home. Freshman Alicia Monson (11th) and senior Sarah Disanza (12th) led the Badgers as Wisconsin put four between 11th and 17th. Sophomore Shaelyn Sorensen was No. 5 for Wisconsin and the Badgers had a 1-5 gap of 48 seconds. In comparing the Wisconsin Invitational (21st) to this meet (held on the same course), no one else who was in the same race had across-the-board bigger improvements (Wisconsin improved 26 to 52 seconds per athlete for four of the five athletes). Wisconsin was sixth (138) at the Big 10 championships, led by sophomore Amy Davis (16th). Disanza (2nd in 2014) and Sorensen (93rd in 2015) have NCAA experience but have only raced in the last two races. They are improving quickly and could push the Badgers into the top 10. Next for Wisconsin is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.  (unr)

18. Eastern Michigan - The Eagles finished fifth (102) at the NCAA D1 Great Lakes Regional in a very tight competition (second was Notre Dame at 91). Junior Jordann McDermitt continued her great season by finishing fifth and leading Eastern Michigan once again. The Eagles dominated the Mid-American Conference (27-78 over Northern Illinois). They were led by the win for McDermitt and they took four of the first seven spots. They finished seventh at Pre-Nationals behind six teams ranked in the top 10. Next for Eastern Michigan is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.    (14)

19. Iowa State - The Cyclones finished third with 90 points at the NCAA D1 Midwest Region (with Missouri winning at 83 and Oklahoma State runner-up at 89). They ran without NCAA veteran Bethanie Brown, the team's No. 3 runner at the Big 12 Championships. If she had run the Cyclones would have easily won. Iowa State defeated Oklahoma State 56-82 to win the Big 12 title. Sophomore Annie Frisbie (fourth) and seniors Perez Rotich (eighth) and Bethanie Brown (ninth) led Iowa State (1-5 gap of 56 seconds). Junior Erin Hooker (14th) led them to finish eighth at the Wisconsin Invitational as the top three at Big 12 did not have good races. If the Cyclones can put it together in the same race they can finish in the top 10. Next for Iowa State is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th. (12)

20. Mississippi - The Rebels seem to be gaining confidence as the season progresses. Mississippi finished second to Mississippi State by a 66-67 margin at the NCAA D1 South Region Championships. The Rebels ran as a group with junior Emily Bean (10th) and seniors Bo Ummels (11th) and Mary Alex England (12th). Mississippi State had significant improvements to beat Mississippi. Ole Miss finished second to Arkansas 46-76 at the SEC championships. Mary Alex England (seventh) and Bo Ummels (eighth) led the Rebels. They were second to Penn State by a 47-94 margin at the Penn State National Open. Mary Alex England (fifth), Bo Ummels (15th) and Emily Bean (16th) led Mississippi. At the Notre Dame Invitational, Mississippi finished seventh. Next for Mississippi is the NCAA D1 Championships on November 19th.   (16)

Watch List

Utah, Mississippi State, Harvard, BYU, Colorado State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Yale, Villanova, UCLA, Boise State, West Virginia, Georgetown