If you want to get a good grip on where WVU will place at Nationals, you have to get a feel for where each of these young ladies is going to place. Last season, the team finished 9th, which was the highest finish in school history. To garner 9th, they scored 375 points and were 55 points from 5th. So, let's break down what these girls have done and kind of points these girls can put up in 2008...
Three's Company
Marie-Louise Asselin -- A product of Sarnia, Ont., Marie-Louise is a junior and looking to improve on her 17th place from last year. Until Regionals, Marie-Louise had been dynamite this season, blowing up the competition in every meet she's entered. Unfortunately, Marie-Louise had trouble at Regionals and did not perform to her expectations. Thankfully, she hung tough and still finished with a solid race. She's a gamer and will bring everything she can to Terra Haute.
Keri Bland -- A graduate from North Marion High School, this junior is looking to bring up her 32nd place finish from 2007. Keri laid some wood this past Spring and Summer, throwing out some of incredible 1500m performances. After a very long season, Keri had a short build-up for the Fall, but still led the team to victory at Penn State earlier in the season. Ms. Bland has won 3 consecutive All-American awards and that won't end any time soon.
Clara Grandt -- A graduate from THE Doddridge County High School, this redshirt junior will be trying to pick up from her 73rd placing in 2007. Clara has won just about every cross country award in the book.. but for, All-American. Well, it takes a tough girl to make All-American and they make girls tough down in Doddridge County.
Those three girls usually run their own races and run them consistently. They are so consistent, that the team place in Indiana isn't going to be determined by these three. They'll be running for personal glory, and their 5 to 10 place swings will be worth a few points. But, the team will live and die by the performance of...
The Four Horsemen
(Note: turn up the music to 11.)
If WVU is going to jump from 9th to 3rd, they're going to need to shed about 150 points from last year. The top 3 cannot improve 150 points, the 4-7 girls can (must) improve 150 points. These four girls seem to pack up early and string out late in races. At what places they pack up and at what places they string out will determine where WVU places.
Kaylyn Christopher -- A Paul Martin protege from Preston High School, Kaylyn is the only one of the Four Horsemen with NCAA Championship experience. Kaylyn got in at 215th place last year and will have to improve on that performance. Kaylyn was 17th at Regionals and 18th at Big East. If they are going to make a run a 200 points, Kaylyn is going to bring a big race to NCAAs.
Ahna Lewis -- Morgantown High School graduate and redshirt freshman. Ahna ran 19:20 down at Foot Lockers last year in the Open race. 19:20 for 5K. Now she's running 6K in the low-21s. She was 22nd at Big East and was 15th at Regionals. I was at the Regional meet and was standing at the 5500m mark. I don't know if Ahna was actually crazy when she passed me, but she had that "killkillkillkill" look in her eyes as she flew by. She brings that to Indiana with her and the point total is going to start looking smaller.
Jessica O'Connell -- Jessica is a transfer from the University of Calgary and is working into a groove in Morgantown. She was banged up earlier in the year and has been working through that problem. Formerly a roommate of W (I'm still holding her goldfish for ransom), she was 29th at Big East and 33rd at Regionals. If she can pull it together and just focus on the girl in front of her, she'll be in great shape.
Kate Harrison -- Kate Harrison is a sophomore from Toronto, Ont. Toronto is a gigantic town with ridiculous traffic. I keep refusing to drive in that city and Megan keeps roping me into doing so. I had to drive through the area of town housing the university and got sorely tempted to mow down all the bicyclists. I don't mind sharing the road, but those on two wheels ought to try sharing back. At any rate, Kate's fast and finished 23rd at Regionals and 32nd at Big East. Kate is pretty experienced for a sophomore and I think she'll be able to rise to the occasion.
So, when we start adding up points, they've got to get under 200 if the girls are going to get on the podium. Let's say 55 points for the pack of three. The girls are then going to need two of the Four Horsemen to run in the 60s or 70s. That won't require a "race of a lifetime" performance, but those girls had better come out guns blazing. Considering four of the girls on varsity have NCAA experience, butterflies shouldn't be too large an issue. I'm feeling good about their chances, but sometimes NCAAs turns out to be more of a throw of the dice than a sure thing.
Anyone interested in watching the race should DRIVE TO TERRA HAUTE. Seriously, it's an easy 6 hour drive. There will be girls from Morgantown, North Marion, Doddridge and Preston fighting for a spot on the podium at NCAAs. This is a rare event. Take the Monday off, buy a bag of beef jerky, fill up with $2 gas, put on your blue and gold and hit the road. But... if your future father-in-law is flying in from across the continent then I suggest you watch the coverage live at http://www.ncaa.com/. If you can make it to Indiana or not, Let's Go... Mountaineers!
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