Head Coach:

Greg Metcalf (13th Year)

 

Last Year:

3rd Pac-12

5th West Region

17th NCAA

 

Probable Top Five:

SO Katie Knight (15:58 5k; 4:23 1500m; 127th NCAA XC '13)

FR Anna Maxwell (4:23 1500m; 4:42 1600m; 10:04 3200m; 5th Footlocker Finals '13)

SO Amy Eloise-Neale (4:26 1500m; 10:13 3k Steeple; 121st NCAA XC '13)

JR Maddie Meyers (9:33 3k; 4:29 1500m; 138th NCAA XC '13)

SO Kaylee Flanagan (36:23 10k; 16:42 5k)

 

Impact Freshman/Recruits:

Anna Maxwell - San Lorenzo Valley, CA (4:23 1500m; 4:42 1600m; 10:04 3200m; 5th Footlocker Finals '13)

Megan Beauchene - Kamiakin, WA (4:45 1600m; 10:26 3200m)

Rose Christen - Central Kitsap, WA (4:49 1600m; 2:05 800m)

Anastasia Kosykh - Eastlake, WA (5:02 1600m; 10:56 3200m)

Kelly Lawson - La Costa Canyon, CA (4:48 1600m; 10:40 3200m)*

*Redshirt Freshman

Analysis:
In last year’s preseason poll, we had the Washington Lady Huskies ranked 4th. They placed 17th in the National Meet. This was a  tad disappointing for Coach Metcalf and his women. This year, even with some very good recruits, we are cutting the coach and his team a little slack and ranking them 14th.

Let’s face it, they lost a lot off of last year’s team, and replacing them will not be easy. There might be at least one incoming freshman who may end up being the best of them all, and at this point, looks like she may be the number one for Metcalf.

 

The girl is Anna Maxwell. While competing for San Lorenzo Valley in California, she had an incredible cross country and track career.  Her fifth at last year’s Footlocker Finals, as great a performance as that was, probably disappointed her and certainly did not out-class her spring track times.  Her 4:23 for 1500 and 10:04 for 3200 will see her pushing Amy Eloise-Neale and Katie Knight.

Eloise-Neale has as much experience under her belt as anyone her age in the country. Only a sophomore, her British citizenship has given her opportunities to compete in the World Junior Cross Country Championships and the European Junior Championship meet. She has been on the track for her native country as well, placing in the World Junior Track Championships two years ago in the steeplechase. It is her best event, trackwise, with an outstanding 10:13 this past year.

The other potential low stick for the Lady Huskies is sophomore Katie Knight. Knight also brings a lot of experience for a sophomore having run for the USA in international cross meets in the past. Her 15:58 in her very first 5,kon the track speaks volumes about her potential. She could be very dangerous in her second year.

Although junior Maddie Meyers and sophomore Kaylee Flanagan look set to be number 4 and 5, do not overlook the very talented Central Kitsap recruit, Rose Christen. Her 2:05 for 800m is much better on paper than her 1600m and cross efforts. If she makes the transition to the 6k race, she can be a dangerous piece for this team.

Will this be the year that Washington over performs? Don’t be surprised if the excellent ladies Coach Metcalf recruited the past two years pulls the rug out from under some higher ranked teams come November.

#14 BYU Men
#15 Providence Women