2018 FloXC Countdown: #9 Washington Women
Follow our 2018 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. And, be sure to watch our LIVE FloXC Podium Reveal Show Tuesday, September 11th at 10 AM CT. The No. 9 women’s spot goes to Washington, and here's why:
Probable Top Five:
JR Katie Rainsberger (4:09 1500; 9:00 3K; 16:13 5K; 16th at ’17 NCAA XC)
SO Lilli Burdon (4:11 1500; 8:59 3K; 15:34 5K; 21st at ’17 NCAA XC)
JR Kaitlyn Neal (9:21 3K; 16:16 5K; 33:21 10K; 26th at ’17 Pac-12 XC)
JR Nicole Zielinski (17:14 5K; 42nd at ’17 Pac-12 XC)
SR Emily Hamlin (10:00 3K SC; 16:15 5K; 155th at ’17 NCAA XC)
Impact Freshmen/Transfers:
Katie Rainsberger via Oregon (4:09 1500; 9:00 3K; 16:13 5K; 16th at ’17 NCAA XC)
Lilli Burdon via Oregon (4:11 1500; 8:59 3K; 15:34 5K; 21st at ’17 NCAA XC)
Olivia O’Keeffe via Davis, CA (4:42 1600; 10:14 2 Mile; 11th at ’17 CA State XC)
Analysis:
Get ready for an entirely new chapter of University of Washington cross country. Long-time University of Oregon coaches Maurica and Andy Powell take the helm of the Huskies’ program after dominating the Pac-12 and developing into perennial NCAA contenders over the past decade. Maurica’s women’s teams, in particular, captured two NCAA XC titles in the past six years (2012, 2016).
Maurica will bring two All-American Ducks with her to Seattle in Katie Rainsberger and Lilli Burdon, both of whom finished in the top 21 at last year’s championship. Burdon broke out as a national-level competitor in the spring with a third-place finish in the NCAA 5K final and while injuries slowed Rainsberger this past spring, she is a mega-talent who placed fourth as a true freshman at the 2016 NCAA XC Championship.
The Huskies lose their top three from last year’s 21st-place squad, including runner-up Amy-Eloise Neale, but return an improved Emily Hamlin (19th in ‘18 NCAA steeplechase final), Allie Schadler (16:55 5K) and Nicole Zielinski (17:14 5K), plus add back Kaitlyn Neal, who did not compete at NCAAs last year but was 78th at the championship in 2016.
The Huskies also add top recruit Olivia O’Keeffe (4:42/10:12 HS PRs), who won the California state cross country meet as a junior and has the potential to contribute right away. Her older sister Fiona is a three-time All-American at Stanford.