Northwestern University Athletics
The 2001 Women's Cross Country Outlook
8/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Aug. 9, 2001
Evanston, Ill. - Amy Tush's timing is impeccable.
The first-year coach comes to Northwestern after a successful stint as a coach at Butler University. She has coached All-Americans and all-conference performers, and she understands the experience needed to win conference titles and compete in the NCAA Championships. In addition, she was a standout runner in her day.
That experience should further bolster a group of runners that looks ready to make a major breakthrough.
Last year, further steps were made toward national recognition. The Wildcats finished fifth at the Big Ten Championships, their best placement since the program was re-started in 1998. The women then turned heads with a fourth-place finish at the district meet, thus nearly receiving an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship meet. While the team did not make the cut, Rachel Evjen became the first Wildcat in the new era to run in the national championship race and placed 126th.
As Tush begins her reign, she has plenty to smile about. Every major scorer from last year is back, and they are young -- only one of the regular scorers is a senior. On paper, the time is now.
Any discussion about the team entering 2001 has to start with Evjen. The junior was the first Wildcat across the finish line in every race in 2000, earning all-district and second team All-Big Ten honors along the way. Senior Laura Evans was the most pleasant surprise last year, clipping at Evjen's heels in the championship events. Evans also earned all-district and second team All-Big Ten in 2000, and she will be counted on to again help Evjen lead the way.
"I expect Rachel and Laura to be our leaders again this season," said Tush. "They now have the experience to lead our team to the NCAA Championships."
A pair of sophomores from Rockford, Mich., enhance the team's depth. Emily Blakeslee scored in every meet in 2000, and gained international experience in March running for the U.S. junior national team at the World Cross Country Championships. Nora Colligan, who was an alternate for the U.S. team, scored in five meets including Big Tens and the district championship.
"Emily and Nora will be key for us this season," said Tush about her Rockford connection. "I expect them to score consistently. With a year of training under their belt, they should be even stronger."
Jennifer Anderson and Maria Badaracco lead the senior class. Anderson was one of NU's top runners during her first two years, but injuries nagged at her last year as she fell out of the first group. Her resurgence would be a welcome sight. Badaracco, one of the captains last year, ran in every race and scored once.
Sara Jurek, who moved from the basketball team to the cross country program last year, finished the campaign with a fluorish and earned a spot in the lineup at Big Tens. She could be this year's surprise. Another runner who was injured last year but could contribute is Clarissa Hitchon. Elizabeth Gibbons, Kathy Travnicek and Katie Webber will also try to break into the starting lineup.
The key to this team may lay in the junior class. In addition to Evjen, the class boasts a pair of regular scorers in Karen Rogers and Nicole Kuznia. Rogers was NU's top finisher at the 1999 Big Ten Championship as a freshman, and last year she scored in all but the opening meet. Kuznia, meanwhile, scored in three of the first four meets in 2000 and ran with the top group at the Big Ten Championships as well as the Pre-National meet. The class is filled out by Maureen Cullinan and Kelsey Otis.
"Our junior class is the biggest key to our success," said Tush. "Their experience and talent will make things happen."
Catie LaBracke, a high school standout in Illinois, ran in two races last year and will hope to make more of a contribution in 2001. She represents the sophomore returnees with Blakeslee and Colligan, but they welcome a newcomer to their class -- Nicole Kalogeropoulos, who transfers in from Wake Forest.
Five freshmen join the team this year, as Northwestern went coast-to-coast with its recruiting. In addition to Kyna Forkins from nearby Glen Ellyn, Ill., the Wildcat picked up a pair of east coasters (Caroline Speirs and Alessandra Vavas) and a pair of Californians (Diana Hossfeld and Carolyn Kapnick).
"I am very excited about the upcoming season," said Tush. "Northwestern cross country will be a force to be dealt with.
"Being the first team left out of the NCAA meet has given us a hunger that needs to be satisfied," she continued. "We have the talent, determination and experience to improve our place at Big Tens and get that bid to the NCAA Championships this fall."
