University of Minnesota Athletics
2002 Gopher Women's Cross Country Outlook
9/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
The Minnesota women's cross country team is one of those teams in transition. The Golden Gophers have built a solid tradition, including five consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships. Minnesota, in fact, is one of just nine schools with an active streak of NCAA appearances longer than five years. An even bigger tribute to cross country at Minnesota is that the Gophers' men's and women's programs have both advanced to the national meet the past five years and are one of just six schools able to trumpet that accomplishment.
With plenty of NCAA Championships experiences on their resume, the Golden Gophers and their veteran coach Gary Wilson are poised to take another step and redefine success for their program.
"It's great that we've been to NCAAs five straight times and to be one of only nine programs to do that," said Wilson, who enters his 18th season at Minnesota. "Initially, our goal was to be in top 20-25, but I think the program is ready for the next step. We are no longer satisfied to just be going to nationals. We want to make a mark and then next year make a bigger mark and so on.
| Sophomore Lisa Dyer |
The Golden Gophers return 11 letterwinners, and eight of last season's top 10 runners, to form the foundation for the success that Wilson foresees for the 2002 squad. Included in those veterans are a trio of All-NCAA Midwest Region performers from a year ago, in sophomore Lisa Dyer and juniors Darja Vasiljeva and Laura Bjork. Senior Anita Menden and junior Krista Anderson also return from the Gophers' NCAA team, though Menden is expected to redshirt the season to recover from a foot injury.
Other letterwinners returning in 2002 are seniors Jill Field, Christine Harper, Kristine Hartmark and Allison Mumbleau; and sophomores Kimberly Magee and Zoe Nagell. Menden, Field and Hartmark will serve as tri-captains this season.
While 11 returning letterwinners alone helped the Gophers garner the No. 17 ranking in the preseason Finish/Lynx National Poll, it is a large and talented freshmen class that has Wilson chomping at the bit to get this season underway. The rookie class of 2002 is a group of competitors with unlimited potential. The race for a top seven spots on the Gopher roster this season will be a tight one.
| Junior Darja Vasiljeva |
But this talented threesome is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at the untapped potential of the freshmen class. A large walk-on contingent of 13 runners lends team depth, a luxury Wilson and the Gophers have not enjoyed often in past years.
"This is probably the most talented group of walk-ons we have ever had in terms of if they keep it together mentally and physically, they can be factors," said Wilson.
Overall, the pieces are in place for the Gophers to make their move. The Gophers expect to run at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 25, and expect to run well. Along the way, Wilson will guide the Gophers to contention for Big Ten Conference and NCAA Midwest Regional titles.
It's a tall order but Wilson feels this team is ready.
"I can just feel it. This is a group of thoroughbreds ready to run," exclaims Wilson. "It's my challenge to pull on the reins some during the week, so we peak at the correct time. I'm really excited about this group. It's going to be a fun season."
In the realm of collegiate athletics, the ultimate goal is to succeed at the highest level, the NCAA Championships. This goal may have an extremely narrow focus for some programs where success means winning the national title and nothing less. Others may temper the goal a bit, looking at a top 10 or a top 20 finish as a marker of success. Still other programs just aim at the very goal of making it to the NCAA Championships as their ultimate goal.
The Minnesota women's cross country team is one of those teams in transition. The Golden Gophers have built a solid tradition, including five consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships. Minnesota, in fact, is one of just nine schools with an active streak of NCAA appearances longer than five years. An even bigger tribute to cross country at Minnesota is that the Gophers' men's and women's programs have both advanced to the national meet the past five years and are one of just six schools able to trumpet that accomplishment.
With plenty of NCAA Championships experiences on their resume, the Golden Gophers and their veteran coach Gary Wilson are poised to take another step and redefine success for their program.
"It's great that we've been to NCAAs five straight times and to be one of only nine programs to do that," said Wilson, who enters his 18th season at Minnesota. "Initially, our goal was to be in top 20-25, but I think the program is ready for the next step. We are no longer satisfied to just be going to nationals. We want to make a mark and then next year make a bigger mark and so on.
| Sophomore Lisa Dyer |
The Golden Gophers return 11 letterwinners, and eight of last season's top 10 runners, to form the foundation for the success that Wilson foresees for the 2002 squad. Included in those veterans are a trio of All-NCAA Midwest Region performers from a year ago, in sophomore Lisa Dyer and juniors Darja Vasiljeva and Laura Bjork. Senior Anita Menden and junior Krista Anderson also return from the Gophers' NCAA team, though Menden is expected to redshirt the season to recover from a foot injury.
Other letterwinners returning in 2002 are seniors Jill Field, Christine Harper, Kristine Hartmark and Allison Mumbleau; and sophomores Kimberly Magee and Zoe Nagell. Menden, Field and Hartmark will serve as tri-captains this season.
While 11 returning letterwinners alone helped the Gophers garner the No. 17 ranking in the preseason Finish/Lynx National Poll, it is a large and talented freshmen class that has Wilson chomping at the bit to get this season underway. The rookie class of 2002 is a group of competitors with unlimited potential. The race for a top seven spots on the Gopher roster this season will be a tight one.
| Junior Darja Vasiljeva |
But this talented threesome is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at the untapped potential of the freshmen class. A large walk-on contingent of 13 runners lends team depth, a luxury Wilson and the Gophers have not enjoyed often in past years.
"This is probably the most talented group of walk-ons we have ever had in terms of if they keep it together mentally and physically, they can be factors," said Wilson.
Overall, the pieces are in place for the Gophers to make their move. The Gophers expect to run at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 25, and expect to run well. Along the way, Wilson will guide the Gophers to contention for Big Ten Conference and NCAA Midwest Regional titles.
It's a tall order but Wilson feels this team is ready.
"I can just feel it. This is a group of thoroughbreds ready to run," exclaims Wilson. "It's my challenge to pull on the reins some during the week, so we peak at the correct time. I'm really excited about this group. It's going to be a fun season."
Players Mentioned
