SEATTLE – For the past 23 years, Stanford has advanced both its men's and women's teams to the NCAA Cross Country Championships and will attempt to extend that streak on Friday at the NCAA West Regionals.
The top two teams in each race advance. Others must hope for at-large bids, which are determined by a point system that reflects each team's season success against those who have already gained entrance.
Both teams appear in good shape. The Stanford men won the Pac-12 championship two weeks ago and are ranked No. 1 in the West and No. 4 in the country, and the Cardinal women are No. 2 in the West and No. 7 in the country. The regional and national rankings match what the Stanford teams were ranked last year going into the regionals in Sacramento, and swept both titles.
In all, 18 teams around the country in each of the men's and women's divisions receive automatic bids and 13 more arrive at-large. In addition, the top four individuals not on qualifying teams (as long as they place in the top 25) will earn passage to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 18 in Louisville, Ky. Finally, two individuals from around the country (with top-25 finishes) will receive at-large bids.
This creates some intrigue for regional coaches. Because the regional and national meets are only eight days apart. There may be some strategy involved in who should run and not run, in order to be fully rested for nationals. The Stanford men, for instance, will rest freshman Callum Bolger and redshirt sophomore Alex Ostberg.
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Here are some details and links concerning Friday's meet:
NCAA West Regionals
Where: Jefferson Park Golf Course
City: Seattle, Wash.
Women's start: 10:30 a.m.
Women's distance: 6K (3.73 miles)
Men's start: 11:30 a.m.
Men's distance: 10K (6.2 miles)
Automatic team qualifying for NCAA's: Top two
Automatic individual qualifying: Top four not on those teams, finishing in top 25.
Follow the meet:
Meet Central: Click here.
Live results: Click here.
Flotrack premium webstream: Click here.
Entries: Click here.
Twitter: @StanfordXCTF
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Stanford's Entries
Men: Tai Dinger, Grant Fisher, Steven Fahy, Blair Hurlock, Jack Keelan, Alek Parsons, Sam Wharton.
Women: Christina Aragon, Elise Cranny, Ella Donaghu, Vanessa Fraser, Jessica Lawson, Abbie McNulty, Fiona O'Keeffe.
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Stanford Men's Overview: Stanford enters NCAA competition on a high, after ending Colorado's six-year hold on the Pac-12 title on Oct. 27 in Springfield, Ore. Grant Fisher kicked to win the individual title. It was Stanford's first team title since 2010 and first individual victory in the same span.
The regional is the first race at the 10K distance, an increase from the regular-season distance of 8K. To race twice at 10K in eight days is demanding, so Stanford is seeking ways to reduce the impact whenever necessary and will rest Alex Ostberg, who was fourth at Pac-12's and Callum Bolger, a freshman and a solid part of Stanford's top five all season. The race also gives fifth-year seniors Jack Keelan and Sam Wharton additional time to work into shape after a late start to the season.
Steven Fahy is coming off a third-place finish at Pac-12's and is looking to stay consistent through nationals. Look for Stanford to race as a team in a field that includes seven teams ranked among the nation's top 30, including No. 6 Portland and No. 10 UCLA. While a Fisher victory may be expected, he may hold back a bit to help his teammates.
Stanford will be aiming for its 16th regional title and 24th consecutive NCAA Championships team appearance. Maksim Korolev in 2014 was Stanford's most recent individual winner.
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Stanford Women's Overview: A top-two finish and automatic NCAA berth is the goal, but Stanford will be hard-pressed to finish ahead of national No. 3 Oregon or No. 4 University of San Francisco. Stanford has yet to race USF this year, but tied Oregon at the Pac-12's only to lose on a tiebreaker.
A victory over Washington at the conference meet should go far if Stanford has to rely on an at-large berth. There are six top-30 teams in the field, and two reigning NCAA outdoor track champions: Boise State's Allie Ostrander (steeplechase) and USF's Charlotte Taylor (10,000).
Stanford is led by fifth-year senior Vanessa Fraser, who was fourth at Pac-12's, and sophomore Fiona O'Keeffe was seventh. Elise Cranny and Christina Aragon will bear watching as well.
Stanford is the defending regional champ and has won 15 regional team titles, but no Cardinal has won the individual title since Teresa McWalters in 2007.
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Stanford's Team Honors:
Men
NCAA Titles: 4 (1996, 1997, 2002, 2003).
NCAA West Regional Titles: 15 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).
Individual Regional Titles: 8, Jonathon Riley (2000), Donald Sage (2001-02), Ian Dobson (2003), Ryan Hall (2004), Neftalem Araia (2006), Chris Derrick (2009), Maksim Korolev (2014).
Women
NCAA Titles: 5 (1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007).
NCAA West Regional Titles: 15 (1982, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2016).
Individual Regional Titles: 9, Ceci Hopp (1982), Louise Watson (1992), Julia Stamps (1999), Alicia Craig (2002-04), Arianna Lambie (2005-06), Teresa McWalters (2007).