Iowa wasn't perfect for Stanford, but just like in the movies, it was heaven as the Cardinal scored the most lopsided team victory in the history of the Division I Men's Cross Country Championships.

The Cardinal discovered their own field of dreams -- a windy, cold one dusted with snow, but a place for legends just the same -- November 24 at Northern Iowa's Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course/Byrnes Park course. Stanford's top four runners placed second through fifth among scoring individuals and the fifth squad member also finished among the top 10 team runners as the Cardinal outscored second-place Wisconsin by a record 150 points.

Stanford's 24 points aren't the lowest total ever at the championships -- UTEP came a bit closer to perfection with a 17-point performance in 1981 -- but the Cardinal smashed another record from four years ago, obliterating what must have seemed before now an unachievable victory margin of 127 points by Arkansas in 1999.

Wisconsin's young team -- with no seniors and only one junior among its top five -- was impressive enough in outpointing experienced teams from Northern Arizona, Iona and Arkansas for runner-up honors. But on this particular day, all those teams were competing in a different league than the Cardinal, whose five scorers crossed the finish line only 29 seconds apart -- and whose sixth, nonscoring runner was only one second behind the fifth scorer.

Ryan Hall, who also scored a second-place finish earlier this season in a pre-nationals race on the same course, led Stanford again in Waterloo, followed closely by Grant Robison, Ian Dobson and Louis Luchini. Adam Tenforde rounded out the Cardinal scoring by placing 10th among team runners, though teammate Don Sage nipped at his heels for that honor.

And Hall came very close to bringing home individual honors for Stanford as well, finishing only one second behind Colorado sophomore Dathan Ritzenhein, the second straight Buffs runner to capture the crown. Ritzenhein and Hall moved away from the pack with less than 2,000 meters to go on the 10,000-meter course, then shifted back and forth approaching the final straightaway, where Ritzenhein was able to outkick Hall for the win.

It was a gutsy performance for Ritzenhein, who took last year off due to a right femur stress fracture after finishing fourth as a freshman at the 2001 championships.

"This wasn't the race that I had wanted, and I wasn't feeling too good, but the outcome was good," Ritzenhein said. "This was a hard season and I won them all. It was hard to get back into racing after taking that much time off. Every race was hard, but this was the hardest with Ryan pushing me all of the way to the end."

Ritzenhein become the third Colorado runner in six years to win the individual title, joining Adam Goucher (1998) and Jorge Torres (2002).

And Stanford's team title is the Cardinal's second in a row and fourth overall, though it's the first for coach Andrew Gerard, who took the reins of the team when longtime Stanford men's and women's coach Vin Lananna was named athletics director at Oberlin earlier this year.

"I think the job the guys did today spoke for itself," said Gerard, who added the team aimed squarely all season at repeating as champions. "There was really no question that this was the ultimate goal, and they went out and ran like it."

Team results

1. Stanford, 24; 2. Wisconsin, 174; 3. Northern Ariz., 189; 4. Iona, 207; 5. Arkansas, 213; 6. Colorado, 259; 7. Georgetown, 281; 8. Air Force, 327; 9. Michigan, 332; 10. North Carolina St. 343; 11. Villanova, 350; 12. Indiana, 384; 13. Cal Poly, 401; 14. Miami (Ohio), 409; 15. Ohio St., 415; 16. (tie) Oklahoma St. and Central Mich., 433; 18. Colorado St., 434; 19. Brigham Young, 443; 20. Texas A&M, 445; 21. Washington, 448; 22. Oregon, 449; 23. Arizona, 536; 24. Providence, 550; 25. (tie) Georgia and Minnesota, 552; 27. Portland, 613; 28. Kentucky, 638; 29. Florida St., 730; 30. Virginia, 801; 31. William & Mary, 849.

Individual results

1. Dathan Ritzenhein, Colorado, 29:14.1; 2. Ryan Hall, Stanford, 29:15.4; 3. Gavin Thompson, Eastern Mich., 29:17.4; 4. Grant Robison, Stanford, 29:19.2; 5. Ian Dobson, Stanford, 29:24.7; 6. Louis Luchini, Stanford, 29:28.2; 7. Westly Keating, Tex.-Pan American, 29:30.4; 8. Alistair Cragg, Arkansas, 29:33.1; 9. Simon Bairu, Wisconsin, 29:33.8; 10. Henrik Ahnstrom, Northern Ariz., 29:41.6.

11. Mindaugas Pukstas, Oklahoma St., 29:42.6; 12. Adam Tenforde, Stanford, 29:44.9; 13. Don Sage, Stanford, 29:45.8; 14. Paul Morrison, Texas, 29:46.4; 15. Chris Solinsky, Wisconsin, 29:48.5; 16. Bill Nelson, Colorado, 29:53.9; 17. Nathan Brannen, Michigan, 29:54.0; 18. Nick Willis, Michigan, 29:54.8; 19. Sean Jefferson, Indiana, 29:57.7; 20. Richard Kiplagat, Iona, 29:58.6.

21. Travis Laird, Northern Ariz., 30:01.3; 22. Mircea Bogdan, UTEP, 30:03.3; 23. Jon Fasulo, Villanova, 30:04.6; 24. Jason Sandfort, Arkansas, 30:06.2; 25. Mark Smyth, Iona, 30:06.6; 26. Antony Ford, Montana, 30:08.6; 27. Tim Mobley, Notre Dame, 30.09.5; 28. Chad Pearson, North Carolina St., 30:12.0; 29. Eric Logsdon, Oregon, 20:12.1; 30. Joe McAlister, Iona, 30:12.5.

31. Ryan Hayden, Villanova, 30:12.5; 32. Steve Sundell, Columbia, 30:12.8; 33. Seth Hejny, Stanford, 30:13.3; 34. Scott Shaw, Clemson, 30:13.5; 35. Dalibor Balgac, Southern Methodist, 30:14.0; 36. Seth Watkins, Northern Ariz., 30:14.0; 37. Michael Thompson, Stephen F. Austin, 30:14.2; 38. Jeff Gaudette, Brown, 30:14.5; 39. Tommy Bonn, Texas A&M, 30:14.8; 40. Nathan Robison, Brigham Young, 30:15.8.

41. David Mitchell, Miami (Ohio), 30:17.1; 42. Austin Vigil, Colorado St., 30:18.4; 43. Andy Weilacher, Northern Ariz., 30:19.9; 44. Chris Powers, Indiana, 30:20.6; 45. Chris Lukezic, Georgetown, 30:21.1; 46. Rod Koborsi, Georgetown, 30:21.2; 47. Chris Acs, Air Force, 30:21.8; 48. Benson Chesang, Kansas, 30:22.7; 49. Dylan Wykes, Providence, 30:22.8; 50. Andrew Cook, Texas A&M, 30:24.1.

51. Ryan Andrus, Oregon, 30:24.3; 52. Josh Glaab, Colorado St., 30:25.5; 53. Ryan Craig, Portland, 30:26.0; 54. Bobby Mack, North Carolina St., 30:26.8; 55. Brent Wilberts, Drake, 30:27.3; 56. Javon Broderick, Georgetown, 30:27.9; 57. Brian Olinger, Ohio St., 30:28.3; 58. Brandon Collins, Cal Poly, 30:28.6; 59. Jonah Maiyo, Arizona, 30:29.3; 60. Rob Myers, Ohio St., 30:32.5.

61. Tim Nelson, Wisconsin, 30:33.0; 62. Tristen Perlberg, Central Mich., 30:33.3; 63. Chris Mulvaney, Arkansas, 30:33.4; 64. Casey Burchill, Colorado, 30:34.0; 65. Josh Spiker, Wisconsin, 30:34.3; 66. Ryan Moorcroft, Cal Poly, 30:35.1; 67. Mark Mandi, Washington, 30:36.0; 68. Bobby Lockhart, Wisconsin, 30:36.1; 69. Robert Cheseret, Arizona, 30:36.9; 70. Brett Holts, Oregon, 30:38.3.

71. Brian Dumm, Air Force, 30:39.1; 72. Jochen Dieckfoss, Boston, 30:40.0; 73. Simon Ngata, Georgia, 30:41.9; 74. Scott Rantall, Oklahoma St., 30:42.1; 75. Nathan Flores, Stephen F. Austin, 30:42.4; 76. Andre Laboy, St. Joseph's, 30:42.7; 77. Ben Payne, Air Force, 30:42.9; 78. John Russell, Washington, 30:43.4; 79. Mike Poe, Arkansas, 30:43.8; 80. Dan Mazzocco, Penn St., 30:44.4.

81. Ryan Sheehan, St. Francis (Pa.), 30:45.2; 82. Sean Ricketts, Cal Poly, 30:45.5; 83. Andy Smith, North Carolina St., 30:45.9; 84. Thomas Morgan, Kentucky, 30:46.3; 85. Stephen Chemlany, Iona, 30:46.7; 86. Jonathon Gibson, Montana St., 30:46.7; 87. Ryan Malmin, Minnesota, 30:47.7; 88. Tim Moore, Notre Dame, 30:48.1; 89. Lucus Humphrey, Central Mich., 30:49.1; 90. Brian McKinstry, Texas A&M, 30:49.1.

91. Bill Michel, Colorado St., 30:49.4; 92. Philip Bett, Georgia, 30:50.2; 93. Bobby Curtis, Villanova, 30:50.6; 94. Matt Gunn, Arkansas, 30:50.7; 95. Jeff Driscoll, Portland, 30:51.2:96. Derek Tate, Oklahoma St., 30:51.8; 97. Tom Greenless, Michigan, 30:52.0; 98. Erik Emilsson, UCLA, 30:52.7; 99. Nigel Wray, Iona, 30:52.8; 100. Mark Walter, Air Force, 30:52.8.

101. Terah Kipchiris, Coastal Caro., 30:53.1; 102. Lucas Meyer, Yale, 30:53.1; 103. Fleet Hower, Georgetown, 30:54.5; 104. Kip Kangogo, Brigham Young, 30:55.0; 105. Steven Kocsis, Chattanooga, 30:55.0; 106. Wesley Smith, North Carolina St., 30:55.7; 107. Xavier de Boissezon, Colgate, 30:55.8; 108. Eric Garner, Washington, 30:55.9; 109. Brent Vaughn, Colorado, 30:56.1; 110. Patrick Moulton, Providence, 30:58.0.

111. Brian Godsey, Miami (Ohio), 30:58.4; 112. Steve Padgett, Miami (Ohio), 30:58.9; 113. Mike Nielson, Utah St., 30:59.3; 114. Jeff Gardina, UC Santa Barb., 30:59.9; 115. Josh Harper, Arkansas, 31:00.1; 116. Matt DeBole, Georgetown, 31:00.6; 117. Jacob Flynn, Central Mich., 31:00.8; 118. Bryan Lindsay, Brigham Young, 31:00.9; 119. Luke Mullranin, Minnesota, 31:01.0; 120. Abe Wengel, Air Force, 31:01.6.

121. Jason Woolhouse, Oklahoma St., 31:02.1; 122. Chris Swisher, Miami (Ohio), 31:02.9; 123. Forest Braden, Boise St., 31:03.1; 124. Kyle Rabbitt, Georgia Tech, 31:03.2; 125. Charlie Koeppen, Indiana, 31:03.3; 126. Jeff Gosselin, Air Force, 31:03.6; 127. Matthew Chesang, Kansas St., 31:04.3; 128. Tim Keller, Wisconsin, 31:04.4; 129. Luke Beevor, Florida St., 31:04.8; 130. Chad Durham, Brigham Young, 31:05.1.

131. Branden Fuller, Eastern Wash., 31:05.8; 132. Sjaan Gerth, Ohio St., 31:06.3; 133. Jacques Henning, Central Mich., 31:06.4; 134. Chris Esselborn, Georgetown, 31:06.5; 135. Shilo Mielke, Northern Ariz., 31:07.1; 136. Milos Mitric, Villanova, 31:07.3; 137. Nick Stanko, Michigan, 31:07.6; 138. Jacob McCauley, Ohio St., 31:08.2; 139. Tim Curran, Providence, 31:08.7; 140. Antonio Vega, Minnesota, 31:09.8.

141. Jared Scott, Colorado, 31:10.0; 142. Dan Huling, Miami (Ohio), 31:10.9; 143. Mario Macias, Cal Poly, 31:11.2; 144. Hunter Spencer, Kentucky, 31:12.0; 145. Carl Moe, Washington, 31:13.0; 146. Ian Dickinson, Georgia, 31:13.5; 147. Dan Glaz, Ohio St., 31:14.7; 148. Sean Stevens, Wake Forest, 31:15.1; 149. Payton Batliner, Colorado, 31:15.2; 150. Stephen Haas, Indiana, 31:16.4.

151. Nick Schuetze, Portland, 31:17.1; 152. Alex L'Heureux, Michigan, 31:18.0; 153. Tom Burns, Indiana, 31:18.9; 154. Mike Nicks, Colorado St., 31:19.1; 155. Don Wilkins, Central Mich., 31:19.8; 156. Mike Swope, Georgia, 31:21.7; 157. Mike Howard, Arizona, 31:22.1; 158. Nick Davenport, Kentucky, 31:22.9; 159. Luke Llamas, Cal Poly, 31:24.0; 160. Kippy Keino, Villanova, 31:24.1.

161. Eddie Rodriguez, Florida St., 31:24.6; 162. Sean Connolly, Iona, 31:25.4; 163. Will Christian, Virginia, 31:26.1; 164. Devin Swann, North Carolina St., 31:26.5; 165. Tristan Colangelo, Princeton, 31:26.5; 166. Sam Vazquez, Arkansas, 31:26.7; 167. Jeff Davis, Central Mich., 31:26.8; 168. Mike Sayenko, Washington, 31:27.4; 169. Erik Grumstrup, Minnesota, 31:27.6; 170. Andy Filachek, Virginia, 31:27.9.

171. Taylor Becklely, Northern Ariz., 31:28.1; 172. Jeff Powers, Central Mich., 31:28.3; 173. Mint Henk, Northern Ariz., 31:28.9; 174. Steve Zieminski, Florida, 31:29.4; 175. Thomas Frazer, Butler, 31:29.8; 176. Kalib Wilkinson, Air Force, 31:30.3; 177. Josh McAdams, Brigham Young, 31:30.4; 178. David Freeman, Kentucky, 31:30.8; 179. Marc Pelerin, Villanova, 31:31.5; 180. Ben Gregory, Wisconsin, 31:31.6.

181. Allen Bader, North Carolina St., 31:31.9; 182. Michael Bialick, Minnesota, 31:32.1; 183. Chad Andrews, Indiana, 31:33.9; 184. Joe Lanzillotti, Texas A&M, 31:35.2; 185. Ian Hornabrook, Florida St., 31:36.4; 186. Charlie Hurt, William & Mary, 31:36.9; 187. Dan Tebbano, Georgetown, 31:37.3; 188. Ben Koss, Washington, 31:37.5; 189. Matt McInvale, Arizona, 31:37.8; 190. Tim Kelly, Tennessee, 31:38.5.

191. Jin Daikoku, Arizona, 31:38.6; 192. Ryan Ford, Minnesota, 31:41.3; 193. Joe Dionne, Providence, 31:41.9; 194. Tarn Leach, Michigan, 31:42.1; 195. Adam Hortian, Iona, 31:43.0; 196. Matt McLeod, Texas A&M, 31:43.0; 197. Tom Lancashire, Florida St., 31:43.7; 198. Shane Ahlers, Oregon, 31:45.9; 199. Brian Rae, Iowa, 31:47.0; 200. Jamie Carmichael, Providence, 31:47.4.

201. Alex Tatu, Virginia, 31:47.5; 202. Eric Bohn, Arizona, 31:48.1; 203. Kyle Goklish, Arizona, 31:49.5; 204. Martin Robeck, Minnesota, 31:49.8; 205. Noel Paulson, Oregon, 31:50.0; 206. Jayme D'Agnolo, Texas A&M, 31:52.1; 207. Paul Michel, Colorado St., 31:54.6; 208. Nathan Brassmassery, Cal Poly, 31:55.5; 209. Jason Schoener, William & Mary, 31:58.3; 210. Jeff Hedley, William & Mary, 31:58.5.

211. Matt Keally, William & Mary, 31:59.1; 212. Sean Moore, Michigan, 31:59.6; 213. Patrick Werhane, Oregon, 31:59.7; 214. Paul DiGrappa, Colorado St., 32:02.0; 215. Jon Lewis, Texas A&M, 32:04.9; 216. Pat Comstock, Willliam & Mary, 32:09.2; 217. Glen Collins, Ohio St., 32:09.8; 218. Matt Johnsrud, Cal Poly, 32:11.0; 219. Caleb Bailey, Western Caro., 32:13.2; 220. Ian Burrell, Georgia, 32:13.6.

221. Eric Redman, Indiana, 32:14.1; 222. Dave Vitto, Virginia, 32:15.6; 223. Walton Kingsbery, Virginia, 32:16.6; 224. Joe Gray, Portland, 32:17.9; 225. Rich Nelson, Brigham Young, 32:19.9; 226. John Lucas, Oregon, 32:20.8; 227. Grant Eichenlaub, Georgia, 32:22.1; 228. Justin Amason, Kentucky, 32:23.0; 229. Kevin Cook, Florida St., 32:24.3; 230. Brett Carter, Portland, 32:27.1.

231. Nick McCombs, Brigham Young, 32:29.7; 232. Tyler Campbell, Oklahoma St., 32:30.0; 233. Trevor Coolidge, Portland, 32:31.7; 234. Matt Caincuilli, Colorado St., 32:32.9; 235. Ryan Ripley, Oklahoma St., 32:47.2; 236. Ryan Hutton, Miami (Ohio), 32:48.0; 237. Ryan Neubart, Virginia, 32:50.1; 238. Jim Van Veen, Florida St., 32:54.2; 239. John Richardson, Kentucky, 32:57.2; 240. Steve Schaefer, Portland, 33:02.3.

241. Darren Brown, Providence, 33:02.9; 242. Bret Schoolmeester, Colorado, 33:07.8; 243. Brian Ehlis, Oklahoma St., 33:13.3; 244. Aaron Fisher, Ohio St., 33:20.4; 245. Adam Otstot, William & Mary, 33:24.7; 246. Shaun Emery, Georgia, 33:28.9; 247. Dave Murphy, William & Mary, 33:52.8; 248. James Atchison, Virginia, 34:06.1; 249. Mark Rowe, Kentucky, 34:27.7.