2022 XC Nationals: Women's Team Preview

November 10th, 2022

The target remains on Michigan, as they look to extend their winning streak to 5 straight National Championship titles.

In 2019, Michigan became the first team in NIRCA history to 3-peat. In 2021, Michigan became the first team to 4-peat. The biggest question is if this is the year that another team has what it takes to topple them. Over their win streak, the closest was Purdue’s insane 2018 team which lost narrowly by 14-points while posting the fastest team average time in NIRCA history. If that performance could not end the Michigan streak, it should be a fantastic one that finally does. The question is if this is the year we see it.

The Regional Champions

The bad news for the field is that Michigan looks to have another strong team, winning the Great Lakes Regional again. However, their winning score of 28 points and team average of 23:32 are the highest and slowest that the team has posted since beginning their streak of National Championships. If basing team strength on those numbers, this Michigan team might be more vulnerable than they have been in a while. On the other hand, their returning runners from last year’s championship race finished 4th, 11th, 12th, and 14th in 2021. And that doesn’t include Ashley Heidenrich who finished 1st at the Great Lakes Regional in her first year of NIRCA competition. So one could also say that an improvement on their team score of 39 at last year’s National Championship is also on the table.

North Carolina posted the lowest team score (22) and fastest average time (23:23) of all teams at Regionals this year, with their dominant performance at the Southeast Regional. North Carolina finished 2nd at the National Championship last year, and looks like the team with the best chance of taking down Michigan. They only return 1 runner from last year’s championship race (Janet Scott, 9th in 2021), but add to their team two stand-outs from the 2021 class races (Emerson Frantz and Maggie McCormick, 2nd and 3rd in 2021 Fr/So race, respectively) as well as the 2022 Southeast Regional individual champion in Abbey Mckee.

The Mid-Atlantic is usually one of the strongest regions in the team competition, and was won this year by Virginia Tech (54 points; 24:03 team average) over Penn State (66 points; 23:58). Virginia Tech finished 18th in 2021, but have catapulted themselves into contention for a podium spot this weekend. Penn State, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their streak of 6-straight podium finishes at NIRCA Nationals.

Stanford won the Pacific Region with a team score of 34 points. Nobody on their roster for the championship race this weekend competed at 2021 Nationals, but they certainly have the potential to find their way to the top of the team competition, led by Pacific Regional champion Chloe Taylor.

Out of the Northeast was another Regional Champion team that did not appear at the 2021 National Championship, Cornell (38 points; 24:13 team average). With 3 runners in the top 6 of the Northeast Regional, including an individual victory from Charlotte Tysall, Cornell should have both the frontrunners and the depth to compete with the rest of the field this weekend.

The Regional Champions from the Great Plains, Wisconsin, will not be competing this weekend. The regional’s runner-ups in Illinois will be looking to represent the Great Plains, led by Diane Makovic who finished 2nd at the Great Plains Regional in a time of 23:35.
 

The Top Returners

Penn State was 3rd in 2021 and finished 2nd in the Mid-Atlantic Regional race, 12 points behind Virginia Tech. They have only finished off the podium at a NIRCA National Championship once (2014), and considering their average time of 23:58 at Regionals is the 4th fastest of any team attending Nationals, they should be solidly in the mix for a podium spot.

Notre Dame scored just 36 points at the Great Lakes Regional with an average time of 23:46, and gave the National favorite in Michigan a tight race. If they can keep it close with Michigan again this weekend, they will certainly improve on their 5th place team finish in 2021.

NC State was 4th in 2021, but only returns 2 runners from that team. After finishing 3rd in the Southeast Regional, they will need strong performances all around to once again fight for a spot on the podium.
 

Prediction:

As in recent years, it is tough to bet against Michigan. If anyone can do it, North Carolina (lowest Regional score and average time) is probably that team. It will likely be a close race from there for the final podium spot. A Mid-Atlantic team has been on the podium for the past 6 years; Virginia Tech and Penn State will be battling with other strong teams such as Notre Dame, Stanford, and Cornell to keep that streak going.
 

1st - Michigan

2nd - North Carolina

3rd - Virginia Tech


 

2021 Regional Champions

RegionChampionAverage Time1-5 Runner Gap
Great LakesMichigan

23:32

2:15

Great PlainsWisconsin

24:56

2:11

Mid-AtlanticVirginia Tech

24:03

0:57

NortheastCornell

24:13

1:34

SoutheastNorth Carolina

23:23

1:21

PacificStanford

24:49

2:55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team Championship History

YearNational ChampRunner-Up3rd Place

2021

Michigan (39)North Carolina (121)Penn State (170)

2019

Michigan (68)Oregon State (137)Penn State (158)

2018

Michigan (88)Purdue (102)Penn State (123)

2017

Michigan (76)Penn State (122)Princeton (173)

2016

Penn State (78)Princeton (154)Michigan State (165)

2015

Penn State (121)Virginia (155)Michigan (163)

2014

Michigan (91)Illinois (141)Michigan State (145)

2013

Virginia (71)Penn State (80)North Carolina (97)

2012

Virginia (40)Penn State (107)Michigan (137)

2011

Illinois (85)Virginia (87)Penn State (103)

2010

Penn State (40)Oregon (118)Wisconsin (123)

2009

Penn State (29)Oregon (109)Duke (168)

2008

Michigan (51)Penn State (65)Oregon (137)

2007

Oregon (35)Penn State (56)North Carolina (57)

2006

Penn State (24)Michigan (49)North Carolina (85)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 All-Time Team Averages at NIRCA Nationals

RankTeamAverage TimeYearNationals Course

1

Purdue

22:27

2018

Masterson Station Park

2

Michigan

22:29

2019

Pole Green Park

3

Michigan

22:32

2018

Masterson Station Park

T4

Penn State

22:39

2018

Masterson Station Park

T4

Michigan

22:39

2021

Blue River XC Course

6

Penn State

22:45

2009

Eagle Crest Golf Course

7

Penn State

22:46

2010

Indiana University XC Course

8

Illinois

22:50

2018

Masterson Station Park

T9

Illinois

23:04

2011

McAlpine Creek Park

T9

Virginia

23:04

2011

McAlpine Creek Park



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by: Patrick Kenney & Jacob Tanner


Patrick Kenney, NIRCA

#previews #nircanats