Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #9 Iowa State Women
Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #9 Iowa State Women
Probable Top Five:
SR Crystal Nelson (15:49 5K; 1st Wisconsin Invite ’14; 1st Big 12 XC ’14; 7th NCAA XC ’14)
FR Becky Straw (33:52 10K; 16:03 5K; 9th Euro XC ’14)
JR Bethanie Brown (9:19 3K; 16:09 5K; 53rd NCAA XC ’14; 37th NCAA XC ’13)
JR Perez Rotich (4:23 1500; 16:30 5K; 65th NCAA XC ’14)
SO Erin Hooker (16:11 5K; 180th NCAA XC ’14)
FR Becky Straw (33:52 10K; 16:03 5K; 9th Euro XC ’14)
JR Bethanie Brown (9:19 3K; 16:09 5K; 53rd NCAA XC ’14; 37th NCAA XC ’13)
JR Perez Rotich (4:23 1500; 16:30 5K; 65th NCAA XC ’14)
SO Erin Hooker (16:11 5K; 180th NCAA XC ’14)
Impact Freshmen/Transfers:
Becky Straw via United Kingdom (33:52 10K; 16:03 5K; 9th Euro XC ’14)
Annie Frisbie via River Falls, Wisconsin (10:47 3200; 13th FL ’14; 20th NXN ’14)
Annie Frisbie via River Falls, Wisconsin (10:47 3200; 13th FL ’14; 20th NXN ’14)
Analysis:
Iowa State’s runner-up team performance in Terre Haute last fall was very impressive. Led by Crystal Nelson and Katy Moen’s 7th-8th place showings, the Cyclones capitalized on their two low sticks to bring some hardware back to Ames.
This season will probably be a different story. Nelson was MIA during indoor and outdoor season, presumably injured, but that leaves us wondering when and if she will race this fall. As the defending Wisconsin Invite and Big 12 Champion, Nelson's got a target on her back this fall. If she’s healthy, this team could be very good.
Newcomer Becky Straw from the U.K. was ninth in the European XC Championships last fall and comes in with very good track PBs. The European girls know how to run cross (Note: Kate Avery), and she could be a very solid replacement for Moen. She raced in Europe much later in the summer so we probably won't see her in the Cyclone uniform until October, but she and Nelson could be a perfect 1-2 punch. Bethanie Brown has been an All American before but raced sparingly in 2014, another questionable factor of this team. If Erin Hooker’s 180th place in Terre Haute can turn more into Perez Rotich’s 65th place, it will help this team tremendously.
This new Cyclone team could have some hidden weapons on the roster, as well. Sophomore Evelyne Guay redshirted the 2014 XC season but ran 2:05/4:25 during her freshman campaign and won the bronze medal for Canada at the 2015 Pan American Jr. Champs. With a fast Louisville NCAA course, Guay could step up and be a solid No. 6 for this team that cannot afford to lose any of their very good top five to injury.
Overall, we’ll more than likely need to wait until the Wisconsin Invitational to figure out what this team is all about.
This season will probably be a different story. Nelson was MIA during indoor and outdoor season, presumably injured, but that leaves us wondering when and if she will race this fall. As the defending Wisconsin Invite and Big 12 Champion, Nelson's got a target on her back this fall. If she’s healthy, this team could be very good.
Newcomer Becky Straw from the U.K. was ninth in the European XC Championships last fall and comes in with very good track PBs. The European girls know how to run cross (Note: Kate Avery), and she could be a very solid replacement for Moen. She raced in Europe much later in the summer so we probably won't see her in the Cyclone uniform until October, but she and Nelson could be a perfect 1-2 punch. Bethanie Brown has been an All American before but raced sparingly in 2014, another questionable factor of this team. If Erin Hooker’s 180th place in Terre Haute can turn more into Perez Rotich’s 65th place, it will help this team tremendously.
This new Cyclone team could have some hidden weapons on the roster, as well. Sophomore Evelyne Guay redshirted the 2014 XC season but ran 2:05/4:25 during her freshman campaign and won the bronze medal for Canada at the 2015 Pan American Jr. Champs. With a fast Louisville NCAA course, Guay could step up and be a solid No. 6 for this team that cannot afford to lose any of their very good top five to injury.
Overall, we’ll more than likely need to wait until the Wisconsin Invitational to figure out what this team is all about.