After a successful 2006 season, the bar has been set high for the Wisconsin women’s cross country team. The Badgers earned a No. 5 ranking in the season’s first U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coach's Association poll.
Last weekend, Wisconsin’s reserves ran a successful meet at the UW-Platteville Open to start off the season. This weekend, the top runners return to the course for the first time in 2007 at the Carroll College Invitational. The race is set to take place at Minooka Park in Waukesha.
Along with Carroll College, Wisconsin will face six other colleges and a track club. Of those competing, Wisconsin represents the lone Division I team at this event.
Despite this, the Badgers are still bringing their A-game.
"Our A-team is competing for the first time this season," head coach said Jim Stinzi, who is returning for his fourth year.
Last season, Stinzi led the Badgers to a fourth-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championship, making it their best season in seven years. The team has some big shoes to fill, however, after the graduation of a talented group of seniors.
"We lost two top-five runners from the Big Ten and National meet this year," Stinzi said. "Katrina Rundhaug and ‘A Havahla Haynes will be missed."
Even with the loss of Rundhaug and Haynes, the Badgers still have 13 letter winners from last year's NCAA-qualifying team returning for another season.
Because of that, Stinzi remains confident about his team’s chances this season.
Not only was Grinaker named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after finishing third at the conference meet last season, but she was also named an All-American for her performance. Plus, she’s stepping in for the departed seniors, acting as a mentor to her teammates.
"Sophomore Hanna Grinaker is filling the role of team leader," Stinzi said.
She is not the only returning player to look out for. Freshman Cassie Hintz is planning on stepping up this season after redshirting last year. Senior Ann Detmer is also looking to contribute in what will be her final year as a Badger.
As Saturday looms near, the team remains in good health, which under Stinzti, has been a pressing concern.
Still, not everyone is at 100 percent.
"Our team is relatively healthy," Stintzi said. "[My] goal is to keep everyone healthy and competitive."
Beyond getting his A-team back out on the course, Stinzi is using Saturday as an indicator to determine who of the younger athletes on the team might be best suited to fill the seven and nine spots for later in the season.
The freshmen last season played a key role in their success. Therefore, the progress of the new runners will be important to the team's growth.
"It's too early to have expectations," Stinzi said. "But I'm excited to see how the season unfolds."
