Head Coach: 

Andrea Grove-McDonough (2nd Year)

 

Last Year:

1st Big-12

1st Midwest Region

13th NCAA

 

Probable Top Five:

JR Crystal Nelson (4:23 1500m; 9:38 3k; 15:49 5k; 35:47 10k; 32nd NCAA XC '13)

SO Bethanie Brown (9:19 3k; 16:09 5k; 37th NCAA XC '13)

SR Katy Moen (4:22 1500m; 9:19 3k; 15:56 5k; 33:32 10k; 77th NCAA XC '13)

FR Olivia Robertson (4:31 1500m; 9:46 3k)

SO Perez Rotich (4:25 1500m; 9:51 3k; 16:32 5k; 10th Midwest Region XC '13)

 

Impact Freshman/Recruits:

Abby Caldwell - Waverly, IA (2:15 800m; 4:37 1500m)

Erin Norton - Grandview, CO (5:00 1600m; 10:59 3200m; 70th NXN '13)

Jackie Feist - Beverly Hills, MI (5:00 1600m; 2:10 800m)

Evelyne Guay - Oakville, ONT (2:09 800m; 4:47 1500m)

Olivia Robertson - Ottawa, ONT (4:31 1500m; 9:46 3k)

 

Analysis:

Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough had a fabulous first year after leaving the University of Connecticut for Ames, Iowa. She returns most of that team, plus adding a couple of quality freshman from Canada.

Crystal Nelson was an All-American last season and added to her resume a 15:49 5k on the track. She should be the leader of the pack, but will be pushed hard by sophomore Bethanie Brown. She won 17 state titles in Maine in high school, proving she has an aversion to losing. She was a top freshman in last year’s NCAA meet with a 37th place finish. She also ran 16:09 for 15k on the track.

While those two battle it out for Alpha Dog spot, senior Katy Moen may just sprint by them both. Moen really blossomed on the track last season, putting up times like a 4:22 1500m, 15:56 5k, and 33:32 10k. Her best distance might be right around 6k. Perfect.

Kenyan Perez Rotich was a very good 10th in last year’s region championship, and if she is the Cyclone’s 4th, that bodes well for Grove-McDonough.

Tne Cyclones have two top Canadian freshman coming in to inject some depth to the squad. Olivia Robertson, from Ottawa, ran 9:46 for 3k last spring and was a top cross country runner in her province. Evelyne Guay, also from Ontario, has shown a good turn of speed with her 2:09 800m.

 

This team does not have a lot of weaknesses. With good front runners, solid depth, and a coach who knows how to get them to Terre Haute, the weather forecast this year looks windy. Prepare yourself for a storm, a Cyclone to be exact.

#12 UCLA Men
#13 Virginia Women