The NCAA News - News and Features

November 10, 1997

Division I Women's Cross Country

Stanford still looks like a champion

Event: 1997 Division I Women's Cross Country Championships.

Overview: If there were any doubts about Stanford's ability to repeat its 1996 title-winning performance, the Cardinal has put them to rest. Perched atop the most recent coaches' poll, the Cardinal has performed like a champion throughout the 1997 campaign. With the return of Mary Cobb, Sara Moore, Sarna Renfro and Kourtney Dunscomb and the addition of Julia Stamps, Sally Glynn and Ann Ramsey, the Cardinal has dominated its opposition. At the Pre-NCAA Invitational October 11 at Furman, Stanford coasted to the team title, outdistancing runner-up and No. 3-ranked Wisconsin by 50 points. Stamps, Renfro, Cobb and Glynn each finished among the top nine individuals, with Stamps claiming the title. Competing against No. 2 Brigham Young September 27 at the Stanford Invitational, the Cardinal posted a 35-point triumph behind Stamps, Cobb and Renfro, who finished Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively .... Brigham Young has enjoyed considerable success in 1997. Courtney Pugmire, Maggie Chan and Elizabeth Jackson lead the Cougars' bid for their first title. Brigham Young placed third in 1996 .... Wisconsin boasts an experienced squad that includes Angie Kujak, Janet Westphal and Jenni Westphal. The Badgers recorded a first-place finish at the Griak Invitational September 27, beating a field that included No. 4 Oregon and No. 6 Providence .... Oregon, behind Milena Glusac, seeks its third victory in the championships but first since 1987, while Providence, the 1995 champion, looks to regain the title. The Friars are led by Sarah Dupre and Maria McCambridge .... Individually, defending individual champion Amy Skieresz of Arizona attempts to join Villanova's Sonia O'Sullivan (1990-91) and Carole Zajac (1992-93) as the only competitors to win consecutive titles.

Field: A total of 184 individual competitors will be selected. Twenty-two teams of seven individuals -- with at least two teams from each of nine regions -- plus 30 individuals (at least three individuals from each region) will make up the field.

Dates and sites: Regional qualifying at nine sites will be November 15. The championships will be November 24 at Furman.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1279 for dates/site/schedule, 5075 for qualifiers and 5076 for championships results. Regional and championships results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Regional results will be published in the November 24 issue of The NCAA News and championship results will be published December 1.