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Nov. 19, 2006
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at the NCAA Championships tomorrow, November 20. The women’s 6,000 meter race will be at 12:15 p.m. and the men’s 10,000 meter race will be at 1 p.m. Both squads return to the national meet after placing 26th in their respective races last season. This marks the second consecutive year that both teams have been to Nationals after the feat was accomplished for the first time in 2005.
On the women’s side, defending champion and national No. 1 Stanford returns All-Americans Ari Lambie, Kathleen Trotter, and Lindsay Flacks. Stanford remains a heavy favorite to repeat as team champions after winning the West Regional in dominating fashion. Other favorites to make the podium are Arkansas, NC State, and Michigan State. Contenders for the Individual title include Lambie, Julia Lucas of NC State, Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech, and Liza Pascuito of Colorado.
The Cavalier women return six of their seven finishers from last year’s squad including All-ACC harriers Emily Harrison, Kara Scanlin, and Katie Read. Also returning for the Cavaliers are All-Region fifth-year Laura Hodges, second-year Lauretta Dezubay, and fourth-year Janine Ricci. Harrison will look to earn the All-American honor that barely eluded her last year. The Hoos will look to improve upon their 26th place finish from last years championship meet. Recently at Nationals, the Cavaliers placed 9th in 2001 and 20th in 2002.
On the men’s side, Wisconsin has been No. 1 for the entire season and is the heavy favorite to repeat last year’s Nationals victory. The Badgers return All-Americans Chris Solinsky, Stuart Eagon, Tim Nelson, and Matt Withrow. Also competing for a top three team finish will be Arkansas, Colorado, and Iona. Individual contenders include Solinsky, Arizona’s Robert Cheseret, Providence’s Martin Fagan, and Liberty’s Josh McDougal.
The men’s squad returns four of its seven finishers from last year’s National team. All-ACC and All-Regional fourth-years Jan Foerster and Andrew Dumm return along with All-ACC second-year Andy Biladeau and fourth-year Alex Tatu. Fourth-year Taylor Smith, the alternate from last year’s NCAA squad, also returns. The Cavaliers finished 26th in 2005, an improvement from their last National trip, a 30th place finish in 2003.