2015 NCAA Women's 5K Preview

2015 NCAA Women's 5K Preview

Jan 3, 2015 by Taylor Dutch
2015 NCAA Women's 5K Preview





Kate Avery, Iona (PB 15:27.90)
Last Year: 9th 3k Indoors, 8th Outdoors
Although Avery raced the 3k at the NCAA Indoor Championships last year, the Iona Gael’s dominant win at the NCAA Cross Country Championships catapults her as the favorite to win the 5k in Fayetteville. After breaking from the pack and taking off at the 2k mark, Avery held the lead and crossed the line eight seconds ahead of runner-up Sarah Disanza for her first NCAA title. It’s that kind of confidence and strength that easily puts her at the top of the list if she chooses to run the event. 
 
Sarah Disanza, Wisconsin (PB 15:20.57)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Disanza shocked everyone at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with her runner-up finish in Terre Haute, and returns as a force to be reckoned with on the track. Just weeks after her second-place performance, Disanza posted a huge personal best in the 5k at the Boston University Season Opener where the sophomore ran 15:20 to not only break the Big Ten record, but also post the fourth-fastest all-time mark among collegians. 
 
Emily Sisson, Providence (PB 15:21.84)
Last Year: 8th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Sisson may have run out of cross country eligibility this past fall, but capitalized on training for track with a blazing time of 15:21 at the Boston University Season Opener on Dec. 6. The performance is the fifth fastest all-time mark in NCAA history and will easily qualify her for the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville. She also recorded a runner-up finish to Molly Huddle at the U.S. 12k Championships in Nov., beating out a stacked field of professionals. 
 

Aisling Cuffe, Stanford (PB 15:11.13)
Last Year: 2nd Indoors, 2nd Outdoors
Although she suffered from an injury during the cross country season, Cuffe was nearly unstoppable on the track in 2014. In indoors, Cuffe earned two All American honors in the 3k and 5k with seventh and runner-up performances, respectively. She later recorded the third-fastest 5k in collegiate history with a blazing run of 15:11 at the Payton Jordan Invitational, and went on to finish runner-up to Marielle Hall at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the event. 
 
Dominique Scott, Arkansas (PB 15:42.42)
Last Year: 2nd 3k Indoors, 6th Outdoors
After finishing sixth overall at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, Scott should be a serious contender on the track no matter the distance, 3k or 5k. She finished just two seconds behind Abbey D’Agostino in the 3k at the NCAA Indoor Championships last year and continued on to finish sixth overall in the 5k at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. 
 
Crystal Nelson, Iowa State (PB 15:49.90)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Nelson capped off an incredible cross country season by leading the Iowa State Cyclones with a seventh-place individual finish at the NCAA Championships. She suffered from injury towards the end of the 2014 outdoor track season and did not compete in indoor, but set personal bests in both the 1500m (4:23) and 5k (15:49) while healthy. 
 

Rachele Schulist, Michigan State (PB 16:01.23)
Last Year: 15th 3k Indoors, 9th Outdoors
Schulist exploded on the cross country scene in 2014 by leading the Michigan State women to the program’s first NCAA title and clocking a fourth-place individual finish. In track, Schulist has put herself in the mix at both NCAA indoor and outdoor finals but never earned All American honors. After her stellar cross country season, Schulist should not only be a contender, but has the potential to compete for an NCAA title.