XC Countdown 2014

XC COUNTDOWN: #15 Providence Women

XC COUNTDOWN: #15 Providence Women

Aug 19, 2014 by FloTrack Staff
XC COUNTDOWN: #15 Providence Women

Head Coach:
Ray Treacy (31st Year)
 
Last Year:
1st Big East
1st Northeast Region
1st NCAA

Probable Top Five:
JR Sarah Collins (15:31 5k; 33:36 10k; 39th NCAA XC '13)
SO Catarina Rocha (16:25 5k; 62nd NCAA XC '13)
FR Bri Ilarda (9:28 3k; 16:33 5k)
FR Katie Lembo (4:33 1500m; 9:41 3k; 22nd Footlocker Finals)
JR Molly Keating (2:08 800m; 224th NCAA XC '13)
 
Impact Freshman/Recruits:
Bri Ilarda - Perth, Australia (9:28 3k; 16:33 5k)
Mackenzie Barry - Mendham, NJ (9:50 3k; 10:19 3200m; 16:57 5k; 27th Footlocker Finals '12)
Katie Lembo - Penfield, NY (4:33 1500m; 9:41 3k; 22nd Footlocker Finals)
 
Analysis:
Providence Lady Friars were second in the NCAA two years ago and moved up to the champions spot in 2013, so where can they go from there? We think number 15.
 
They lost the heart and soul of this team and most of its low sticks to graduation. Especially significant were the loss of Emily Sisson and Laura Nagel, both national class on the grass and the track. But you can never completely count out a Ray Treacy team. For a team without a track, you have to look at the year in and year out recruiting and coaching job this man does and tip your hat to him.

The best returners are really good. Sarah Collins was 10th in the big meet in 2012, and 39th last year. She bounced back on the track with  15:31 5k and 33:36 10k showings and she is the best of Treacy’s 2014 crew. Collins has the distinction of winning the Irish (she is a citizen) and Swiss junior cross championships. Attending posh Basel International School in Basel, Switzerland, where tuition is about $40,000 a year, Collins did not seem to soften up one bit. She is a tough cookie and could be a top ten finisher again.

Sophomore Catarina Rocha was 65th last year as a freshman. Treacy will want her to do about 20 spots better than that to be his number two girl.
 
Australian frosh, Bri Illarda, brings some nice times to the table for Providence. She was fifth in the Australian junior 5k championship race on the track last year.
 
Katie Lembo of New York and Mackenzie Barry of New Jersey were 22nd and 27th, respectively, and the Footlocker Finals and will help Providence get back to the dance.
Treacy’s women won all three of the big meets they ran last year with first at the Big East Conference, Northeast Regional, then NCAA's.

If Collins can bring back her form from two years ago, they might win at least one of those this year, but probably not in Terre Haute.

#15 Arkansas Men
#16 Wisconsin Women