NCAA Division I Pre-Nationals Invitational 2013Oct 16, 2013 by Isaac Wood
Pre-Nats Women's Team Preview: Can the Hoyas or Ducks stop FSU?
Pre-Nats Women's Team Preview: Can the Hoyas or Ducks stop FSU?
As we roll into the most exciting week yet in the 2013 NCAA Cross Country season, the field at the Pre-Nationals meet in Terre Haute for the women’s side is nasty. Although there are so many top ranked teams, we can only go in depth on a few of them.
#2 Florida State
The ‘Noles have been led by steeple stud Colleen Quigley and British transfer Hannah Walker all season long and we should expect to see them in the front pack pushing the pace throughout the race. Florida State relies on three other very solid athletes - Pippa Woolven, Linden Hall, and Georgia Peel - to keep the 1-5 spread as tight as possible.
Hall and Peel both have outstanding speed and anyone lagging the last 400-800m at Terre Haute should watch their back. Woolven is as consistent as it comes and is a great competitor. As the spread gets tighter, the ‘Noles will find themselves placing higher in Terre Haute this weekend.
#5 Georgetown
So…in my rankings from this past week I mentioned that the Hoyas did not run Madeline Chambers along with Katrina Coogan. I was wrong in the fact that Chambers did not run, because she did (Coogan did not). The real concern lies with why was Chambers so far down the G-Town totem pole. If she was hurt, sick, or impacted by the brutal heat, then they will be fine. If she is struggling this year for one reason or the next, that could be the killer for the Hoyas.
Katrina Coogan is a big time talent and will lead the Hoyas this weekend. The good news is that Samantha Nadel is running very well and can easily step into the no. 2 role. If Chambers can bounce back and Rachel Schneider and Haley Pierce are as good as they were at Paul Short, Georgetown will be breathing down the necks of Florida State for the team title.
#6 Oregon
The award for the most enigmatic team on the women’s side this year belongs to the Oregon Ducks. The question, “How good are they really going to be?” has been going through my head numerous times this season.The pieces are there. On paper, this should be a podium team by the end of the year according to pure stats. All Oregon has to do is make it actually happen in a race. Well, that’s the beauty of the sport: you can either run that fast or you cannot.
It will be fun to see how good Oregon is when Lindsay Crevoiserat and Julia Zrinyi (former UConn teammates) finally toe the line. It will be very interesting to note if Allie Woodward is going to run and if she is healthy. Is Molly Grabill finally back to the form she was in a few years back? Who is Maggie Schmaedick (local girl from Sheldon, Oregon)? All of these questions will be answered on Saturday.
#11 Stanford
Led by Aisling Cuffe and Jessica Tonn, the Stanford Cardinal are not lacking in front-runners to provide crucial low sticks in this massive field of 51 teams this weekend at Pre-Nats.
The worry is more about who they have coming in after those two. At times last year, it was Justine Fredronic who ran well in the clutch. Other times last year, Megan Lacy or Rebecca Mehra ran well to fill out the rest of the scorers.
This season it might need to come down to some freshman to step up. Local talent Danielle Katz is a possible name to throw in the mix if they pull her redshirt. She’s a 4:52/10:47 girl who was solid unattached at their home meet. Sophie Chase is another very talented freshman (4:48/10:27) that could be found in the mix, if Miltenberg decides to pull her redshirt as well. Because of this huge field, the two low sticks will be crucial for Stanford in its quest to score some important points. There may be no team in the field that needs to lock down some Kolas Points this weekend than Stanford does because of the depth of the West Region. If Miltenberg can find a 3-4-5 that can be consistent, they will be fine. If not, they better hope three girls run well enough to knock off some quality opponents or things could get interesting come regionals.
Dark Horse Team - #14 Michigan
This is not that much of a dark horse team because they’re the sixth highest ranked team in the field at Pre-Nats, but they are not the fifth highest and therefore not “expected” to place as high as Colorado, according to the rankings. Michigan should not surprise you (if you’ve done your research, but maybe that’s why you’re taking the time to actually read this preview) as having a good squad.
Bringing back Shannon Osika, Taylor Pogue, Taylor Manett, and Brook Handler is huge for the Wolverines. Yes, they lost Addison, and Smith and Eccleston, but to be honest, the girls listed above might be better suited than the three seniors they lost anyway. With the addition of high school stud Erin Finn and very talented Canadian Jaimie Phelan, the Wolverines are tough. If Finn and Phelan can feel their way through this HUGE field and Pogue can keep up her front-running ways (Pogue has not lost all season), Michigan is going to not just be pushing for points, but working it up front with some of the best teams in the NCAA.
Pre-Nats will be streamed LIVE on Flotrack starting at 11 a.m. EDT. Watching is as easy as clicking below.
#2 Florida StateThe ‘Noles have been led by steeple stud Colleen Quigley and British transfer Hannah Walker all season long and we should expect to see them in the front pack pushing the pace throughout the race. Florida State relies on three other very solid athletes - Pippa Woolven, Linden Hall, and Georgia Peel - to keep the 1-5 spread as tight as possible.
Hall and Peel both have outstanding speed and anyone lagging the last 400-800m at Terre Haute should watch their back. Woolven is as consistent as it comes and is a great competitor. As the spread gets tighter, the ‘Noles will find themselves placing higher in Terre Haute this weekend.
#5 GeorgetownSo…in my rankings from this past week I mentioned that the Hoyas did not run Madeline Chambers along with Katrina Coogan. I was wrong in the fact that Chambers did not run, because she did (Coogan did not). The real concern lies with why was Chambers so far down the G-Town totem pole. If she was hurt, sick, or impacted by the brutal heat, then they will be fine. If she is struggling this year for one reason or the next, that could be the killer for the Hoyas.
Katrina Coogan is a big time talent and will lead the Hoyas this weekend. The good news is that Samantha Nadel is running very well and can easily step into the no. 2 role. If Chambers can bounce back and Rachel Schneider and Haley Pierce are as good as they were at Paul Short, Georgetown will be breathing down the necks of Florida State for the team title.
#6 Oregon
The award for the most enigmatic team on the women’s side this year belongs to the Oregon Ducks. The question, “How good are they really going to be?” has been going through my head numerous times this season.The pieces are there. On paper, this should be a podium team by the end of the year according to pure stats. All Oregon has to do is make it actually happen in a race. Well, that’s the beauty of the sport: you can either run that fast or you cannot.
It will be fun to see how good Oregon is when Lindsay Crevoiserat and Julia Zrinyi (former UConn teammates) finally toe the line. It will be very interesting to note if Allie Woodward is going to run and if she is healthy. Is Molly Grabill finally back to the form she was in a few years back? Who is Maggie Schmaedick (local girl from Sheldon, Oregon)? All of these questions will be answered on Saturday.
#11 StanfordLed by Aisling Cuffe and Jessica Tonn, the Stanford Cardinal are not lacking in front-runners to provide crucial low sticks in this massive field of 51 teams this weekend at Pre-Nats.
The worry is more about who they have coming in after those two. At times last year, it was Justine Fredronic who ran well in the clutch. Other times last year, Megan Lacy or Rebecca Mehra ran well to fill out the rest of the scorers.
This season it might need to come down to some freshman to step up. Local talent Danielle Katz is a possible name to throw in the mix if they pull her redshirt. She’s a 4:52/10:47 girl who was solid unattached at their home meet. Sophie Chase is another very talented freshman (4:48/10:27) that could be found in the mix, if Miltenberg decides to pull her redshirt as well. Because of this huge field, the two low sticks will be crucial for Stanford in its quest to score some important points. There may be no team in the field that needs to lock down some Kolas Points this weekend than Stanford does because of the depth of the West Region. If Miltenberg can find a 3-4-5 that can be consistent, they will be fine. If not, they better hope three girls run well enough to knock off some quality opponents or things could get interesting come regionals.
Dark Horse Team - #14 Michigan
This is not that much of a dark horse team because they’re the sixth highest ranked team in the field at Pre-Nats, but they are not the fifth highest and therefore not “expected” to place as high as Colorado, according to the rankings. Michigan should not surprise you (if you’ve done your research, but maybe that’s why you’re taking the time to actually read this preview) as having a good squad.
Bringing back Shannon Osika, Taylor Pogue, Taylor Manett, and Brook Handler is huge for the Wolverines. Yes, they lost Addison, and Smith and Eccleston, but to be honest, the girls listed above might be better suited than the three seniors they lost anyway. With the addition of high school stud Erin Finn and very talented Canadian Jaimie Phelan, the Wolverines are tough. If Finn and Phelan can feel their way through this HUGE field and Pogue can keep up her front-running ways (Pogue has not lost all season), Michigan is going to not just be pushing for points, but working it up front with some of the best teams in the NCAA.
Pre-Nats will be streamed LIVE on Flotrack starting at 11 a.m. EDT. Watching is as easy as clicking below.