Cross Country DIVISION I Women’S
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Cross Country DIVISION I WOMEN’S Highlights Villanova Claws Back On Top: Gina Procaccio was a part of Villanova cross country’s glory days as a runner, yet as a coach, she wasn’t entirely sure the Wildcats could climb all the way back. Times have changed in the sport. But now, the past is present again. Villanova is back on top. The Wildcats won their eighth NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Championships on November 23, the school’s first since 1998. Junior Amanda Marino led the team with a sixth-place finish on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center, clocking 20 minutes, 2.4 seconds over the 6K layout. Sheila Reid, the Mid-Atlantic Regional champion, scored 12th-place team points with a 20:16.3 effort. For Villanova, the 6K distance hasn’t come naturally since the NCAA switched to the distance in 2000. At that time, Procaccio took over and started to consider the school’s new place in the sport. “We are traditionally a middle-distance program, we have to recruit for Penn Relays—that’s our Olympic games,” she said. “When it was 6K, I wondered if we’ll ever win this again. “Three years ago I recruited Amanda, Ali (Smith, fourth for the team at the championships), Sheila, I just told them, ‘When I came to Villanova, a group of us all came in together, then won their first title. I think you guys can do that. I really believe by the time you’re juniors and seniors, we can be national champions.’” That dream came true under clear Indiana skies that moved from chilly in the morning to warm by race time. With 86 points, Villanova prevailed in a fairly easy win over Florida State (133) and Washington (188). The Huskies came into the race with the top spot in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings, but couldn’t live up to the billing in the Cham- pionships. Sophomore Kendra Schaaf finished second in 19:51.6, but the nearest teammate was 40 seconds behind. Katie Follett earned 21st-place team points at 20:32.0. By comparison, Villanova’s top four earned sixth, 12th, 20th and 22nd team points. The individual medallist was Illinois’ Angela Bizzarri, finishing in 19:46.8 to add a cross country championship to her NCAA title at 5,000 meters in her junior year of track. As a senior, she finished her road-racing career fighting to the finish, pulling ahead of Schaaf and running down Florida State’s Susan Kuijken, who led by about 40 meters at the midway point but faded to third at 19:57.7. “I felt Kuijken coming back to me, I thought I’d be able to catch her,” Bizzarri said. “It was an awesome feeling.” The Mason, Ohio, native surprised herself, as she was able to survive the long final straightaway on the LaVern Gibson course for a five-second victory. “You say it to yourself beforehand, ‘I know I can do this,’ but when it comes to fruition, it’s so much more startling to me,” she said. “I know I was in great shape coming into this. It’s not that I was doubting myself. It just for things to work out the way you want to and the way you’ve been training for and the way you’ve worked so hard for, it just doesn’t always happen that way. “I guess you’ve got to embrace the times that it does.” 2009 TEAM STANDINGS 1. Villanova .............................................86 9. Oregon ............................................. 276 17. Iowa St. ............................................. 446 25. SMU .................................................... 581 2. Florida St. ......................................... 133 10. Minnesota ....................................... 310 18. Syracuse ........................................... 450 26. Michigan St. .................................... 601 3. Washington .................................... 188 11. Providence ...................................... 349 19. BYU ..................................................... 453 27. Michigan .......................................... 637 4. Texas Tech ....................................... 191 12. Illinois ................................................ 365 20. Colorado .......................................... 458 28. Baylor ................................................ 666 5. Princeton ......................................... 251 13. New Mexico.................................... 368 21. Georgetown ................................... 495 29. Ohio St. ............................................. 673 6. West Virginia .................................. 259 14. Penn St.............................................. 375 22. UTEP .................................................. 500 30. Arizona ............................................. 682 7. Florida ............................................... 260 15. Virginia .............................................. 391 23. Notre Dame .................................... 519 31. Indiana .............................................. 716 8. Duke .................................................. 272 16. Stanford............................................ 408 24. Arizona St. ....................................... 520 *Team Places: Amanda Marino 6, Sheila Reid 12, Bogdana Mimic 20, Alison Smith 22, Nicole Schappert 26. 2009 INDIVIDUAL REsults St., 20:34.7; 27. Megan Hogan, George Washington, 51. Alex Banfich, Princeton, 20:57.3; 52. Kate Van 20:34.8; 28. Stephanie Wilson, Santa Clara, 20:37.3; 29. Buskirk, Duke, 20:57.3; 53. Stephanie Marcy, Stanford, 1. Angela Bizzarri, Illinois, 19:46.8; 2. Kendra Schaaf, Carly Seymour, Duke, 20:37.5; 30. Nicole Schappert, 20:57.4; 54. Kaitie Vanatta, Missouri, 20:57.4; 55. Pilar Washington, 19:51.6; 3. Susan Kuijken, Florida St., Villanova, 20:38.1. McShine, Florida St., 20:59.1; 56. Caroline Karunde, 19:57.7; 4. Catherine White, Virginia, 19:59.5; 5. Allie 31. Marie Lawrence, Washington, 20:38.5; 32. Kaitlyn Texas Tech, 20:59.7; 57. Erin Bedell, Baylor, 21:00.4; 58. McLaughlin, Colorado, 20:01.1; 6. Amanda Marino, Sarah Cummings, Princeton, 21:00.6; 59. Juliet Bottorff, Villanova, 20:02.4; 7. Megan Duwell, Minnesota, 20:06.9; Peale, Michigan, 20:38.8; 33. Beverly Ramos, Kansas St., 8. Emily Infeld, Georgetown, 20:07.9; 9. Risper Kimaiyo, 20:38.9; 34. Christine Babcock, Washington, 20:42.6; Duke, 21:01.5; 60. Brooke Simpson, Villanova, 21:01.5. UTEP, 20:10.9; 10. Cecily Lemmon, BYU, 20:11.9. 35. Lindsey Ferguson, Notre Dame, 20:42.7; 36. Marie- 61. Lauren Bonds, Kansas, 21:02.3; 62. Betzy Jimenez, Louise Asselin, West Virginia, 20:42.8; 37. Hannah 11. Janet Jesang, Western Ky., 20:13.6; 12. Lisa Koll, Davidson, Providence, 20:42.8; 38. Veronica Pohl, Texas, 21:02.9; 63. Kathy Kroeger, Stanford, 21:03.3; Iowa St., 20:15.5; 13. Sheila Reid, Villanova, 20:16.3; Northern Ariz., 20:43.5; 39. Amanda Winslow, Florida 64. Breffini Twohig, Providence, 21:03.3; 65. Jessica 14. Clara Grandt, West Virginia, 20:18.2; 15. Rebecca St., 20:43.7; 40. Keri Bland, West, Virginia, 20:44.9. Rydberg, Notre Dame, 21:03.5; 66. Wendi Robinson, Lowe, Florida, 20:18.8; 16. Pasca Cheruiyot, Florida St., Indiana, 21:03.9; 67. Alison Bishel, Ball St., 21:04.7; 20:22.2; 17. Emily Pritt, North Carolina St., 20:22.8; 18. 41. Kristin Sutherland, Illinois, 20:45.9; 42. Jennifer 68. Nicky Archer, New Mexico, 21:05.7; 69. Ashley Jordan Hasay, Oregon, 20:23.1; 19. Lillian Badaru, Texas Dunn, Florida St., 20:46.5; 43. Ari Fisher, Toledo, 20:47.0; Higginson, Princeton, 21:06.1; 70. Caitlin Comfort, Tech, 20:24.2; 20. Liz Costello, Princeton, 20:24.3. 44. Stephanie Garcia, Virginia, 20:47.6; 45. Winrose Wisconsin, 21:06.5. Karunde, Texas Tech, 20:47.9; 46. Ruth Senior, New 21. Charlotte Browning, Florida, 20:25.7; 22. Bogdana Mexico, 20:50.9; 47. Janel Blancett, Georgia St., 20:53.2; 71. Alison Parris, James Madison, 21:07.2; 72. Elizabeth Mimic, Villanova, 20:26.6; 23. Katie Follett, Washington, 48. Nicole Blood, Oregon, 20:54.6; 49. Allie Kieffer, Boyle, Illinois, 21:08.1; 73. Alex Dunne, Stanford, 20:32.0; 24. Alison Smith, Villanova, 20:33.1; 25. Purity Arizona St., 20:55.8; 50. Emily MacLeod, Michigan St., 21:08.1; 74. Stacey Johnson, Florida, 21:08.1; 75. Tarah Biwott, Texas Tech, 20:34.1; 26. Bridget Franek, Penn 20:56.8. McKay, Louisville, 21:08.8; 76. Kristine Eikrem-Enges, 2 Division I Women—Results SMU, 21:09.3; 77. Alexandra Lizarribar, Kent St., 21:09.6; 141. Betsy Saina, Iowa St., 21:35.4; 142. Kara Millhouse, St., 22:06.3; 204. Jessica Parry, Florida St., 22:06.6; 78. Natasha LaBeaud, Georgetown, 21:09.6; 79. Lacey Penn St., 21:35.5; 143. Zamzam Sangau, Middle Tenn., 205. Bronwyn Crossman, Oregon, 22:07.0; 206. Natalie Oeding, New Mexico, 21:10.1; 80. Katie Hursey, 21:36.0; 144. Semehar Tesfaye, Iowa St., 21:36.1; 145. Bower, Penn St., 22:07.8; 207. Jamie Brusa, Illinois, Syracuse, 21:10.5. Nichole Jones, Baylor, 21:36.6; 146. Sophia Ziemian, 22:08.3; 208. Rebekah Smeltzer, Michigan St., 22:09.8; Duke, 21:36.7; 147. Maggie Callahan, Arizona, 21:37.8; 209. Kaitlin Shiver, Florida, 22:10.9; 210. Mary Alenbratt, 81. Alex Kosinski, Oregon, 21:10.5; 82. Gladys Kipsang, 148. Lauren Penney, Syracuse, 21:38.4; 149. Carlie SMU, 22:12.1. Texas Tech, 21:10.8; 83. Corey Conner, Maine, 21:11.2; Green, Michigan St., 21:39.2; 150. Katie Cumming, 84. Heather Dorniden, Minnesota, 21:11.4; 85. Aliphine Colorado, 21:40.4. 211. Anne Kesselring, Oregon, 22:12.6; 212. Ahna Lewis, Tuliamuk, Iowa St., 21:11.6; 86. Caitlin Lane, Penn St., West Virginia, 22:12.7; 213. Megan Meyer, Arizona, 21:11.8; 87. Claire Michel, Oregon, 21:12.6; 88. Amy 151. Lindsay Prescott, Arizona St., 21:40.7; 152. Laura 22:14.5; 214. Rebecca Tracy, Notre Dame, 22:15.8; 215. Laskowske, Minnesota, 21:12.9; 89. Shelby Greany, Garrow, Florida, 21:41.1; 153. Sarah Foster, Ohio St., Natalie Busby, Syracuse, 22:17.2; 216. Nikki Swenson, Providence, 21:12.9; 90. Kayla Hale, Duke, 21:13.2. 21:41.6; 154. Anna Sperry, Arizona St., 21:41.7; 155.