LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- For the 22nd consecutive year, Stanford sends both its men’s and women’s teams to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, which take place Saturday at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park. It is the longest ongoing streak in the country.
Stanford, which has combined for nine team championships (five women, four men), has intriguing possibilities. The men were runners-up last year and enter ranked No. 3. The women are led by two-time Pac-12 champion Aisling Cuffe, who was fourth at the 2013 NCAA Championships.
* * *
Meet Information:
What: NCAA Cross Country Championships
Where: Louisville, Ky.
Site: E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park
When: Saturday
Women:
Race time - 9 a.m. PT (noon ET)
Distance - 6 kilometers (3.73 miles)
Men:
Race time - 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET)
Distance - 10 kilometers (6.2 miles)
Follow the action:
Live results: Click here
TV/Webstream: Click here
Stanford in USTFCCCA rankings:
Men - No. 3
Women - No. 13
* * *
Stanford’s NCAA Roster:
Men
Grant Fisher
Jack Keelan
Sean McGorty
Jim Rosa
Joe Rosa
Garrett Sweatt
Sam Wharton
Alt.: Steven Fahy
Women
Sophie Chase
Aisling Cuffe
Vanessa Fraser
Danielle Katz
Hannah Long
Julia Maxwell
Claudia Saunders
Alt.: Molly McNamara
* * *
Stanford Men's Overview:
Stanford was the NCAA runner-up last year (98 points) and enters the NCAA Championships ranked No. 3. The Cardinal returns five members of its 2014 lineup -- Sean McGorty (20th), Joe Rosa (33rd), Sam Wharton (39th), Garrett Sweatt (68th), and Jack Keelan (100th). The Cardinal lost Maksim Korolev (fourth) and Michael Atchoo (29th), who were in their fifth seasons, but return Jim Rosa, who placed fifth at the 2013 NCAA’s before missing 2014 with an injury. The Cardinal also benefits from having freshman Grant Fisher, a two-time Foot Locker national high school champion, who will be racing for Stanford for the second time this season. This will be his first race at the 10K distance.
The Cardinal has eight NCAA top-two team finishes in its history, but this year’s squad remains something of an enigma. Because of injuries and, in the case of Fisher, who has been brought along slowly, this is the first time Stanford is running with its full ‘A’ team (Keelan did not race at Pac-12's or regionals). Therefore, an accurate prediction of the Cardinal’s chances seems out of the question. Plus, Stanford’s men have been wildly unpredictable at NCAA's in recent years, performing much lower than their ranking or much higher, as was the case last year when Stanford entered at No. 9. Stanford has fluctuated in this year’s USTFCCCA rankings from No. 2 in the pre-season poll to No. 23 (Oct. 20) to its current No. 3.
Stanford has four cross-country All-Americans among its top seven (McGorty, the Rosas, and Wharton), five have run the 5,000 in sub-14 (Keelan, McGorty, Sweatt, and the Rosas), and two are sub-4 milers (Fisher, McGorty). The Cardinal was second at both the Pac-12’s (to Colorado, 46-57) and NCAA West Regional (to Washington, 63-83).
Stanford Men Keys to Success
• Success is relative. Coach Chris Miltenberg, Stanford's Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field, might define success as a top-10 finish based on the adversity that Stanford has battled through and considering valuable training time missed. However, there seems little doubt that if its top five are at their best that Stanford could be formidable. The unknown is whether the Cardinal can be at that level considering that some runners have been working themselves back in shape after injuries.
• The Rosa factor. Jim and Joe Rosa are both capable of top-five finishes if fully healthy and trained. Since that hasn’t been the case, they’ve had to progress with limited racing. They are improving each week, with Jim sixth and Joe eighth at regionals. They are the biggest X-factors in Stanford’s arsenal.
• The high school phenom. Can a team have three X-factors? Actually, if you include Jack Keelan, who missed the Pac-12 and West Region meets, one could say Stanford has four unknowns. But, back to the freshman ... Grant Fisher arrived with impeccable credentials: Among two in high school history to win two Foot Locker national cross-country championships and run a sub-4 mile. Given that Fisher is stepping up his weekly mileage significantly and the NCAA’s 10K race distance is twice what he did in high school, Miltenberg has brought Fisher along slowly. He raced unattached at the Stanford Invitational, finishing second to teammate Sean McGorty and then made his Stanford debut at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing 11th overall and No. 3 on his team over 8K. This will be his first race at the 10K distance.
• The team, the team, the team. Perhaps the most valuable member of last year’s team was fifth-year senior Michael Atchoo, a miler who paced Stanford’s second pack up the field throughout the race, to secure the runner-up finish. Stanford’s doesn’t have anyone in such a defined role this year. The Rosas, McGorty, and Garrett Sweatt have been running in the lead pack as long as possible. However, running as a team and knowing where their teammates are will be vital.
• Stepping up to the moment. Last year, Stanford had the benefit of not having to live up to anyone’s expectations. This year, there will be more eyes on the Cardinal, including some who wonder whether it can end the Colorado dynasty. This year, Stanford must deal with, or ignore, added pressure.
* * *
Stanford Women's Overview:
In an ideal world, Aisling Cuffe and Elise Cranny would have raced together at Stanford, Cuffe as a fifth-year senior and Cranny as a sophomore. Last year, Cranny was the top freshman at the NCAA Championships, finishing 12th -- the highest by a Stanford frosh since Lauren Fleshman (fifth) and Erin Sullivan (seventh) in 1999 -- while Cuffe missed the season with an injury. This year, Cranny is out with an injury while Cuffe won her second Pac-12 title. Cuffe sat out the NCAA West Regional as an injury precaution and Stanford finished fourth -- advancing as an at-large.
In Cuffe’s two serious races, the Cardinal was third at both the Washington Invitational and Pac-12 Championships. Stanford has history on its side, the Cardinal has won five NCAA titles and has 10 top-two team finishes in its history. This is Stanford’s 23rd consecutive NCAA appearance -- the longest women’s streak in the country by far. Michigan State is next at 16.
Cuffe, the fourth-place NCAA finisher in 2013, is the only cross-country All-America among Stanford’s lineup. Vanessa Fraser, who has run 15:54.12 in the 5,000, has often been the Cardinal No. 1 in Cuffe’s absence.
Last year, Stanford placed 14th with five freshmen in eligibility and returned all seven from that team. This year’s lineup will include three of those: Fraser and Sophie Chase, plus Molly McNamara as an alternate . However, Stanford has been boosted by the emergence of a sophomore who was not part of that group. Julia Maxwell was the team’s No. 2 at regionals and No. 3 at conference -- her best individual team finishes. Also, freshman Hannah Long has been a solid part of the top five all season.
Stanford Women Keys to Success
• Consistency. The Stanford women have been more consistent at nationals than the men -- with finishes of 10th, third, 11th, and 14th the past four seasons -- and the program will count on that consistency once again. Stanford has finished 16th or better every year since 1993, a streak of 22 years.
• Could be a contender. Aisling Cuffe is undefeated in her two competitive races this season, winning the Washington Invitational and the Pac-12 title. Her background is so strong that she must be regarded as a contender despite the fact that she has raced seriously only twice in the past 17 months. Coach Chris Miltenberg said the key to her Pac-12 victory was having confidence in her ability, even if she didn’t share the training base of some of her competitors. Cuffe was fourth at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships and runner-up in the NCAA indoor and outdoor 5,000 in 2014 before missing all of the 2014-15 cross country and track seasons with a back injury. She has run 15:11.13 in the 5,000, making her the third-fastest collegian in history.
• Team running. Stanford’s spread from Nos. 1-7 at the NCAA West Regional was only 21.6 seconds, by far the tightest group in the race. Nos. 1-5 were only 17.6 seconds apart. If Stanford can get a similar spread from Nos. 3-7, the Cardinal may be in business for the podium. However, Cuffe and Vanessa Fraser should be ahead of that group for Stanford to maximize its point potential.
• The half-miler. Claudia Saunders got a late start to cross country after a long track season that ended at the Areva Diamond League meet outside Paris on July 4. Saunders is a two-time NCAA outdoor runner-up in the 800 and holds the school record of 2:00.63. She joined the Stanford lineup at Pac-12s and was the team’s No. 5 there and at the West Regional. If she can bring another strong performance, it would be a welcome bonus. She is quite familiar with competing on big stages.
* * *
Pac-12 All-Century Team
In this, the 100th year of the conference now known as the Pac-12, a series of All-Century teams have been selected to honor the greats in conference history. Stanford dominated the women’s All-Century team: Sara Bei ‘05, Alicia Craig ‘05, Lauren Fleshman ‘03, Regina Jacobs ‘86, and Arianna Lambie ‘07. The men had one selection among the 12 runners selected: Ryan Hall ‘05.
* * *
Stanford's NCAA Competitors
Men
Grant Fisher, fr. (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS)
• 11th at Pac-12 Championships.
• One of two high schoolers in history to win two Foot Locker national cross country championships and run a sub-4-minute mile.
• Racing 10K distance for the first time.
• Second at the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 26 while running unattached.
Jack Keelan, jr. (La Grange Park, Ill./St. Ignatius College Prep)
• Fourth at Washington Invite on Oct. 2.
• Has not raced since Wisconsin Invite on Oct. 16.
• 100th at 2014 NCAA Championships.
• Has a 5,000 best of 13:45.82.
• Majoring in product design.
Sean McGorty, jr. (Fairfax, Va./Chantilly HS)
• Three-time All-American.
• 20th at the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
• 7th at NCAA West Regionals.
• 2nd at Pac-12’s; No. 1 on team.
• Third at 2015 Wisconsin Invitational.
• 2014 U.S. junior and NACAC cross country champion.
• Best 5,000 is 13:37.64.
• Management science and engineering major.
Jim Rosa, 5th sr. (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS)
• Two-time All-America.
• Sixth at NCAA West Regional.
• 20th at Pac-12’s; No. 5 on team.
• Fifth at 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
• Second at 2013 Pac-12 Championships.
• 10K best of 28:57.51.
• Management science and engineering major.
Joe Rosa, 5th sr. (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS)
• Three-time All-American.
• Eighth at NCAA West Regional.
• Eighth at Pac-12’s; No. 2 on team.
• Third at 2014 Pac-12 Cross Country Championships.
• 2014 Pac-12 10,000 champion.
• Has a 10K best of 29:16.71.
• Management science and engineering major.
Garrett Sweatt, sr. (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville HS)
• 20th at NCAA West Regional.
• 16th at Pac-12’s; No. 4 on team.
• Has a 10K best of 28:51.56.
• Two-time Pac-12 All-Academic cross country team.
• Stanford’s No. 2 at Wisconsin Invitational, 25th overall.
• Biology major.
Sam Wharton, jr. (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe HS)
• 2014 Cross Country All-American, placing 39th at NCAA’s.
• 42nd at NCAA West Regional.
• 43rd at Pac-12’s; No. 7 on team.
• 2012 Nike Cross Nationals high school champion.
• Management science and engineering major.
Alternate:
Steven Fahy, so. (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon HS)
• 2nd at 2015 U.S. junior national steeplechase.
• 66th at Pac-12’s; No. 9 on team.
• 72nd at NCAA West Regional.
• Freshman in cross country eligibility.
Women
Sophie Chase, jr. (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock HS)
• 15th at NCAA West Regional; first time as Stanford's No. 1.
• 23rd at Pac-12’s; No. 4 on team.
• 2014 and 2015 All-West Region in cross country.
• 2014 Pac-12 All-Academic cross country first team.
• Majoring in history.
Aisling Cuffe, 5th sr. (Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y./Cornwall Central HS)
• 2013 and 2015 Pac-12 cross country champion.
• 2015 Pac-12 Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
• Fourth at 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
• 2014 NCAA indoor and outdoor runner-up in 5,000.
• Best 5,000 of 15:11.13 makes her the third-fastest collegian all-time.
• 2011 U.S. junior national cross country champion.
• Has raced twice this season after missing 2014-15 with an injury.
• This is her first race since winning Pac-12's on Oct. 13.
• Majoring in biology.
Vanessa Fraser, jr. (Scotts Valley, Calif./Scotts Valley HS)
• 12th at Pac-12’s; No. 2 on team.
• 13th in 2015 NCAA outdoor 5,000.
• 39th at NCAA West Regional.
• Came to Stanford as a walk-on and is now on scholarship.
• Stanford’s No. 1 at Pre-Nationals (26th overall)
• Best 5,000 is 15:54.12.
• Symbolic systems major.
Danielle Katz, jr. (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos HS)
• 24th at NCAA West Regional; Stanford's No. 3.
• 30th at Pac-12’s; No. 6 on team.
• Stanford No. 2 at Stanford Invitational (eighth overall)
• No. 8 on school steeplechase list (10:23.32)
• Majoring in product design.
Hannah Long, fr. (Pacific, Mo./Eureka HS)
• 29th at NCAA West Regional; No. 4 on team.
• 32nd at Pac-12’s; No. 7 on team.
• Stanford’s No. 3 runner in first two races.
• Missouri state high school record holder in 1,600 (4:40.15).
• 49th at Pre-Nationals.
Julia Maxwell, so. (Ross, Calif./The Branson School)
• 18th at NCAA West Regional; personal-best No. 2 on Stanford's team.
• 19th at Pac-12’s; No. 3 on team.
• Team’s biggest surprise this season.
• Has run in Stanford’s top five in every collegiate race.
• 79th at Pre-Nationals.
• Three-time California Division V high school cross country champ.
Claudia Saunders, sr. (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton HS)
• Five-time All-America.
• Two-time NCAA outdoor 800 runner-up.
• Stanford record holder in the 800 (2:00.63).
• 35th at NCAA West Regional; No. 5 on team.
• 25th at Pac-12’s; No. 5 on team.
• International relations major.
Alternate:
Molly McNamara, 5th sr. (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Catholic HS)
• 35th at Pac-12’s; No. 8 on team.
• 2014 All-West Region in cross country.
• Stanford’s Donald Kennedy Award winner for commitment to community service.
• Started Cardinal RHED, a mental health resource organization for student-athletes.
* * *
Head Coach
Chris Miltenberg (Georgetown ’03)
Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field
• Fourth season as men’s and women’s head coach for track and cross country.
• His runners have won three of the past four Pac-12 women’s individual XC titles.
• Stanford has never failed to qualify a men's or women's team for the NCAA XC Championships under Miltenberg.
• Coached Georgetown women to the 2011 NCAA cross country title.
• Named 2013 USTFCCCA West Region Cross Country Coach of the Year.
• Seven of his current runners have broken 14:00 in the 5,000.
• Six of his distance runners were NCAA outdoor finalists in 2015, with two top-three finishes.
• Seven were finalists at the 2014 NCAA outdoors, including two runners-up.
• Coached Stanford men to NCAA West Region titles in his first two seasons.
• Coached Kathy Kroeger (2012) and Aisling Cuffe (2013, 2015) to Pac-12 XC victories.
• Coached Claudia Saunders to back-to-back NCAA outdoor 800 runner-up finishes and a Stanford school record.
• One of his Stanford runners, Miles Unterreiner, was named a Rhodes Scholar.
• Coached the Cardinal men to the 2014 NCAA indoor distance medley relay title.
• Two-time All-America distance runner at Georgetown.