2017 NIRCA National Cross Country Championships Women’s Preview
November 9th, 2017
The 2017 NIRCA XC Nationals Women’s Championship race features both an individual and a team with targets on their backs as defending champions. But this race is shaping up to be one of the tightest in NIRCA history.
TEAM
Penn State University enters as the two-time defending champs and the standard-bearer of the Association, having won five of the previous 11 national titles and finishing on the podium (top three) 10 of those 11 years. The Nittany Lions come in fresh off another Mid Atlantic Regional title but by the absolute smallest of margins, a one-point victory over Princeton. Suzanne Stein has led PSU all season and is also the Mid Atlantic individual champ. Stein should provide a key low stick but this Penn State team is not as deep as their last two championship squads, as evident by the close call in Bethlehem three weeks ago. Baylee Robey, Leah Narkevic, and Hannah Morris were all in the top 15 at Regionals and helped to give Penn State a 23:03 team average, tied for the best across all Regionals this year.
The team most likely to derail what would be a Penn State dynasty is the one who has been chasing them relentlessly the past few seasons. Last year’s national runner-up and the second best squad from the Mid Atlantic this year, Princeton University, has been one of the fastest-rising women’s programs in NIRCA history. With seniors Lindy Zeng and Avery Kratzer providing veteran experience and sophomores Barrett Gray (3rd at regionals), Alice Wistar, and junior Yuzki Oey, the Tigers averaged 23:07 in Bethlehem and scored 59 points.
Coming in with an almost identical team average at Regionals to Penn State and Princeton is the perennial Great Lakes power, University of Michigan. The Wolverines have owned the Great Lakes and have two national titles to their name, the most recent coming in 2014 – on this same East Lansing course. Behind a 1-2 finish from Anna Piccione and Audrey Ladd and Allison McLean and Amberlee Kreis also in the top 10, Michigan averaged 23:03 and scored just 30 points to run away with the title in Shelbyville, IN.
Another club that can vie for the crown is Great Lakes runner-up, Michigan State University. While the Spartans were 26 points back of Michigan in Shebyville, they had a respectable 23:37 average and have the advantage of running on familiar territory in East Lansing. In fact, MSU’s first podium finish came the last time they took to the Forest Akers Golf Course three years ago, and this team was third last year. Erin Zimmer should provide Michigan State with an early point boost as they try to stun the field for a first-ever national title.
Pacific Regional champs, University of California Davis, have one of the individual race favorites in Sally Keating, who brings a ton of NIRCA experience into this meet. Keating easily won the Pacific Regional and led Davis to the team title with 35 points and a 24:16 average on arguably the most difficult regional course.
Northwestern University shocked the competition in Iowa City to win the Great Plains, knocking off one of the most consistent NIRCA power-house programs, University of Illinois, 51-55. The Wildcats averaged 24:38 and were led by individual champ Hannah Anderson.
No stranger to being in the mix for a title is Southeast Regional champ University of North Carolina. The Tarheel women averaged 24:25 a few weeks back and bested in-state rival North Carolina State University 55-64. In the Northeast Region, Northeastern University repeated as champs averaging 25:42.
Other teams to watch include Stanford University (second at Pacific), University of Virginia (third at Mid Atlantics), University of Maryland (fourth at Mid Atlantics), University of Illinois (second at Great Plains), University of Wisconsin (third at Great Plains), and North Carolina State University (second at Southeast).
INDIVIDUAL
Few outside of the Southeast Region knew Katelyn McCracken’s name before the 2016 national meet. Then the Duke senior smoked the competition in Hershey and has been full speed ahead since. Fresh off another Southeast title, McCracken is the one everyone will be going after on Saturday and you can bet that everyone knows her name. The Duke standout went 21:26 in Spartanburg, almost 30 seconds better than runner-up Gracie Griffith of Clemson, and the fastest time of any regional winner this year. A win on the Forest Akers Golf Course would make McCracken the first ever back-to-back women’s champ in NIRCA’s 12-year history and the second two-time champ, joining Florida’s Betsy Suda who won the 2011 and 2013 titles.
Suzanne Stein enters with the second fastest regional time, covering the Lehigh University course in 21:50. The Penn State sophomore was 14th a year ago and looks primed to contend for the individual title. She will have plenty of company from her Mid Atlantic counterparts in Pittsburgh’s Jenny Orie, Princeton’s Barrett Gray, and West Virginia’s Lauryn Falcone. Orie was 144th in 2016 but served noticed with a runner-up finish at this year’s Mid Atlantics. Falcone is a returning All-American and Gray was just outside the top 30 in Hershey.
The highest returning finisher, not named McCracken, is UC Davis’ Sally Keating. Aside from her Pacific Regional title this year, Keating has performed well on the national stage, placing third last season. Her time at Pacifics, 22:11, comes on a challenging Crystal Springs XC Course, putting her well within striking distance of the title in East Lansing.
The Great Lakes features a few former All-Americans who will be in the hunt for the championship. It starts with the Michigan duo of Anna Piccione and Audrey Ladd, who went 1-2 in Shelbyville. Piccione was 24th at the 2016 national meet and is the reigning regional champ in GL. Michigan State’s Erin Zimmer, third at regionals, was 8th in Hershey in 2016, 12th in Lexington in 2015, and 30th in East Lansing in 2014. All three were under 23 minutes at Great Lakes.
The Southeast Region will also provide a contender in Georgia’s Cydney Seigerman, who went 22:11 for a third place finish. Out of the Great Plains, keep an eye on Northwestern’s Hanna Anderson (the regional champ in 23:14) and in the Pacific, Stanford’s Kiah Hardcastle (runner-up in 23:08) should contend.
Two other top 10 finishers from 2016 nationals who will toe the line this Saturday include Indiana’s Emily Wagoner and Oregon’s Dana Fry.
PREDICTIONS
TEAM:
The Ivy League has never produced a team or individual national champion…until now. Princeton’s experience pays off when it counts the most, winning a tight one over Michigan and Penn State, respectively.
INDIVIDUAL:
A mix of veterans, newcomers, and runners who have made huge improvements from a year ago makes for a closer race than last year. But the result is the same. Duke’s McCracken becomes the first ever back-to-back champ. UC Davis’ Keating is a close second and PSU’s Stein holds on for third.
Highest Returning Finishers from 2016
Katelyn McCracken, Duke, 1st
Sally Keating, UC Davis, 3rd
Emily Wagoner, Indiana, 6th
Erin Zimmer, Michigan State, 8th
Dana Fry, Oregon, 10th
Lauryn Falcone, West Virginia, 13th
Suzanne Stein, Penn State, 14th
Lindy Zeng, Princeton, 16th
Karleigh White, Pittsburgh, 17th
NIRCA Women’s National Champions
|
Year |
Champion |
College/University |
Time |
Course |
|
2016 |
Katelyn McCracken |
Duke |
22:10 |
Parkview XC Course, Hershey, PA |
|
2015 |
Kaitlyn Johnson |
Georgetown |
22:00 |
Masterson Station Park, Lexington, KY |
|
2014 |
Cara Donohue |
Minnesota |
22:24 |
Forest Akers Course, East Lansing, MI |
|
2013 |
Betsy Suda |
Florida |
22:22 |
Parkview XC Course, Hershey, PA |
|
2012 |
Becky Boyle |
Indiana |
22:31 |
Parkview XC Course, Hershey, PA |
|
2011 |
Betsy Suda |
Florida |
21:27 |
McAlpine Creek Park, Charlotte, NC |
|
2010 |
Danelle Woods |
Illinois |
21:54 |
IU XC Course, Bloomington, IN |
|
2009 |
Lauren Philbrook |
Penn State |
21:59 |
Eagle Crest Golf Course, Ypsilanti, MI |
|
2008 |
Kelsey Armstrong |
Clemson |
22:30 |
Penn State Golf Course, University Park, PA |
|
2007 |
Jen Laser |
Indiana |
23:45 |
IU XC Course, Bloomington, IN |
|
2006 |
Ruth Mick |
Penn State |
22:35 |
Lock Haven XC Course, Lock Haven, PA |
All-Time Top 25 6k Performances at NIRCA XC Nationals
|
1 |
Besty Suda |
Florida |
21:27 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
2011 |
|
2 |
Becky Boyle |
Indiana |
21:42 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
2011 |
|
3 |
Danelle Woods |
Illinois |
21:54 |
Indiana XC Course |
2010 |
|
4 |
Lauren Philbrook |
Penn State |
21:59 |
Eagle Crest Golf Course |
2009 |
|
5 |
Kaitlyn Johnson |
Georgetown |
22:00 |
Masterson Station Park |
2015 |
|
6 |
Cassi Knight |
Penn State |
22:04 |
Indiana XC Course |
2010 |
|
7 |
Katelyn McCracken |
Duke |
22:10 |
Hershey Parkview Course |
2016 |
|
8 |
Lauren Philbrook |
Penn State |
22:13 |
Indiana XC Course |
2010 |
|
9 |
Kristen Mohrer |
Oregon |
22:15 |
Eagle Crest Golf Course |
2009 |
|
10 |
Megan Mocogni |
Illinois |
22:21 |
Masterson Station Park |
2015 |
|
11 |
Betsy Suda |
Florida |
22:22 |
Hershey Parkview Course |
2013 |
|
11 |
Mollie Pozzolo |
Michigan |
22:22 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
2011 |
|
13 |
Ganna Bowen |
North Carolina |
22:23 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
2011 |
|
14 |
Cara Donohue |
Minnesota |
22:24 |
Forest Akers Golf Course |
2014 |
|
15 |
Kristen Mohrer |
Oregon |
22:25 |
Indiana XC Course |
2010 |
|
16 |
Maddie Stark |
Penn State |
22:26 |
Eagle Crest Golf Course |
2009 |
|
17 |
Emma Grimes |
Illinois |
22:29 |
Forest Akers Golf Course |
2014 |
|
18 |
Kelsey Armstrong |
Clemson |
22:30 |
Penn State Golf Course |
2008 |
|
19 |
Sarah Brewer |
Michigan |
22:31 |
Eagle Crest Golf Course |
2009 |
|
19 |
Becky Boyle |
Indiana |
22:31 |
Hershey Parkview Course |
2012 |
|
19 |
Liz Novack |
Pennsylvania |
22:31 |
Hershey Parkview Course |
2016 |
|
22 |
Amanda Zamora |
Illinois |
22:32 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
2011 |
|
22 |
Julianne Schnepp |
Penn State |
22:32 |
Indiana XC Course |
2010 |
|
22 |
Rachel White |
Michigan |
22:32 |
Penn State Golf Course |
2008 |
|
25 |
Michaela Alamillo |
Oregon |
22:33 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
2011 |
Team Championship History:
|
YEAR |
NATIONAL CHAMP |
RUNNER-UP |
3RD PLACE |
|
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:
|
Rank |
Team |
Average Time |
Year |
Nationals Course |
|
1 |
Penn State |
22:45 |
2009 |
Eagle Crest Golf Course |
|
2 |
Penn State |
22:46 |
2010 |
Indiana University XC Course |
|
T3 |
Illinois |
23:04 |
2011 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
|
T3 |
Virginia |
23:04 |
2011 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
|
5 |
North Carolina |
23:18 |
2011 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
|
6 |
Penn State |
23:25 |
2011 |
McAlpine Creek Park |
|
T7 |
Virginia |
23:26 |
2012 |
Hershey Parkview XC Course |
|
T7 |
Michigan |
23:26 |
2014 |
Forest Akers Golf Course |
|
T7 |
Penn State |
23:26 |
2016 |
Hershey Parkview XC Course |
|
T10 |
Virginia |
23:29 |
2013 |
Hershey Parkview XC Course |
|
T10 |
Penn State |
23:29 |
2015 |
Masterson Station Park |
Stephanie Bartley, NIRCA