2019 D2 XC Top 25 Women: Update #6

Updated: Jan 13

KEY

(Unranked):

Was not ranked the week before.

(#/#):

First number indicates how much the individual has moved in the rankings.

The second number indicates where they were ranked the week before.

25. Dania Holmberg, Junior, Seattle Pacific (Unranked)

Holmberg enters the rankings after a runner-up finish at the West regional meet. She placed 18th in both the 1500 meters and 5k last spring at NCAA's, so she definitely has the speed and experience advantage heading into the national meet.

Homberg took that success from the spring and rode into the cross country season where her most notable performances have been a 5th place finish at the Western Washington University Classic and a 4th place finish at the GNAC Championships.

24. Nicolette Schmidt, Sophomore, Augustana (Unranked)

Schmidt enters the rankings yet again after a 3rd place finish at the Central Regional Championships in 21:25. This was a really solid performance for the sophomore after varying levels of success from her throughout the season. However, she seems to be getting more comfortable in highly competitive races which is a great sign for Nationals.

23. Emmanuelah Chelimo, Senior, Alaska Anchorage (+1 / 24)

Chelimo improves one spot after another win at the West regional meet. She has redeemed herself after underwhelming in the beginning and middle portions of her season.

22. Hanna Groeber, Junior, Grand Valley State (-14 / 8)

Groeber has the biggest drop this week after an 8th place finish at the Midwest Regional Championships. This was an impressive performance, but during this past week and conference week, other runners have outshined her or have straight up placed ahead of her. Grand Valley State knows what they’re doing on the national stage, so I am not too worried about this performance.

21. Emily Byrd, Senior, Michigan Tech (Unranked)

Byrd placed 4th at the Midwest Regional Championships and enters our rankings after an underwhelming beginning to her season. She placed 20th at Nationals last year and will have a chance to improve upon that performance this weekend. Byrd has plenty of talent and when she is at her best, she is difficult to beat.

20. Tiffany Christensen, Senior, Adams State (Unranked)

Christensen enters the rankings yet again after a 7th place finish at the South Central Regional Championships. She had a rough race at the RMAC Championships where she placed 16th, but her performance this weekend shows us that she has rebounded and is ready to race well at Nationals.

19. Chloe Flora, Senior, Lee (-3 / 16)

18. Celine Ritter, Junior, Lee (-3 / 15)

Ritter and Flora left their competition in the dust at the South Regional Championships. The Flames duo went 1-2 once again with times of 21:41 and 21:45, respectfully. The duo drops back a few spots in our rankings, but it has more to do with the performances from others than it does them.

17. Kayla Ogle, Freshman, U-Mary (+8 / 25)

Kayla Ogle had another very impressive performance at the Central Regional Championships. She placed 2nd overall to beat a slew of talented U-Mary and Augustana runners. There is a good possibility that Ogle will be the top freshman at NCAA's this year. She improves seven places in our rankings due to her consistent talent through the latter half of the season and the fact that she is not afraid to run with the big names in Division Two.

16. Taryn Christy, Sophomore, Illinois Springfield (+4 / 20)

Christy became the first Illinois-Springfield runner to qualify for Nationals, and she did so in impressive fashion. She placed 5th at the very competitive Midwest Regional Championships in a time of 21:09. This past weekend proved to us (and the rest of the nation) that she is the real deal.

15. Lauren Bailey, Junior, Indianapolis (+4 / 19)

Bailey placed 3rd at the Midwest Regional Championships in a time of 20:51. She has had a stellar season thus far with a 4th place finish at the Lewis Crossover being her worst placement in a race. She improves four places this week to enter our top 15.

14. Billie Hatch, Junior, Dixie State (-3 / 11)

Hatch recorded another top 10 finish this past weekend at the South Central Regional Championships where she placed 9th in 21:46. Her consistent success throughout the season and ability to put herself in the top pack in competitive meets makes me believe that she will be in the top 15 come Nationals.

13. Alden Gruidel, Junior, MSU-Denver (-1 / 12)

Gruidel placed just in front of Hatch with an 8th place finish in the South Central region. Gruidel has also had a stellar season with consistent success and an especially noteworthy past few weeks at RMAC's and the South Central regional meet.

12. Alexia Thiros, Junior, Western Colorado (Unranked)

Thiros had an amazing race at the South Central Regional Championships to place 6th overall in 21:39. She has had a solid season so far, but this was definitely her most impressive performance and because of it, she jumps all the way to #12 in our rankings.

11. Elysia Burgos, Sophomore, Southwest Baptist (+7 / 18)

Burgos continues to prove that she is the real deal. She placed 2nd at the Midwest Regional Championships in a time of 20:44. Burgos has been on absolute fire this season, but also raced a lot more than most of the runners in our rankings. Hopefully she’ll peak when it matters the most and crack the top 10 in Sacramento.

10. Zoe Baker, Sophomore, Colorado Mines (+2 / 12)

Baker placed 5th in a time of 21:38 at the South Central Regional Championships. She continues to impress me and I am shocked that she is only a sophomore. Her consistent talent and fearless racing is that of an experienced senior. I think she is a name to keep an eye on for the next few years, but for now, I think she has a rightful spot in our top 10.

9. HaLeigh Hunter-Galvan, Senior, Adams State (0 / 9)

Hunter-Galvan recorded a 4th place finish in the South Central region. This was an impressive race, especially considering she placed 8th against the same talent just two weeks prior.

8. Nicole McMillen, Senior, Tusculum (Unranked)

TSR readers, let me introduce to you Tusculum’s secret gem.

McMillen really should have been in our rankings prior to this, but her willingness to battle Leah Hanle at the Southeast region shows us that she has guts (as well as talent). She ended up 2nd in a time of 21:02, 11 seconds behind Hanle’s 20:53.

McMillen won the South Atlantic Conference Championship, the Bobcat Invitational, and the Louisville Classic by good margins. I am excited to see her race against the nation’s top talents and see just how tough she really is on the national stage.

7. Chloe Cook, Senior, Colorado Mines (+5 / 12)

Cook placed 3rd at the South Central Regional Championships to lead the chase pack (and her team) to a 2nd place finish. This was another incredibly impressive performance by Cook. She is relentless and experienced when it comes to racing, not to mention that she has the speed to shut down other talented runners when it comes time to kick.

6. Roisin Flanagan, Senior, Adams State (+1 / 7)

Roisin Flanagan sat out this week.

5. Leah Hanle, Senior, Mount Olive (+1 / 6)

Hanle won the Southeast region in a time 20:53, improving her already impressive resume.

4. Allie Ludge, Senior, Grand Valley State (-2 / 2)

Ludge won the Midwest Regional Championships in 20:34 to win by 10 seconds. Ludge is having a phenomenal season and is undefeated against Division Two runners this season, but she drops to #4 this week after some spectacular performances from some familiar foes...

3. Eilish Flanagan, Senior, Adams State (-2 / 1)

2. Stephanie Cotter, Sophomore, Adams State (+2 / 4)

Eilish Flanagan placed 2nd at the South Central Regionals Championships behind teammate Stephanie Cotter, 20:53 to 21:01. This is only Cotter’s second race of the season, but it's clear that her RMAC performance was not a fluke and she proved that this past weekend. Flanagan had another great performance to add to her already ridiculously impressive resume.

1. Ida Narbuvoll, Senior, U-Mary (+2 / 3)

This might seem like a hot take, but Ida Narbuvoll deserves the #1 ranking.

Let me begin with her season so far.

She won the MSU-Moorhead Dragon Twilight by 56 seconds, and I think it is important to add that it was only a 4000 meter race.

Then she won Roy Griak by 64 seconds.

Then she won the UND Ronn Pynne Classic by eight seconds (against Division One runners, and there was 59 seconds between 2nd and 3rd place).

Then she won NSIC's by 84 seconds.

Then she won the Central Regional Championships by 75 seconds.

She has not had any competition the entire season and leads every race gun from line. She is not afraid to hurt and run her heart out each and every race. The Central region is not as strong as the South Central or Midwest, but I would still predict Narbuvoll as the winner of those races as well.

Not convinced yet?

Narbuvoll beat Kayla Wooten of UCCS by 70 seconds at Griak, and I would say that that was Wooten’s best race of her season. Wooten placed 12th at both the RMAC and the South Central meet, about 80 and then 70 seconds behind Cotter in each race.

Narbuvoll is undefeated and I think she could stay that way through the end the season...

ADDED

Nicole McMillen (Tesculum)

Alexia Thiros (Western Colorado)

Emily Byrd (Michigan Tech)

Tiffany Christensen (Adams State)

Nicolette Schmidt (Augustana)

Dania Holmberg (Seattle Pacific)

KICKED OFF

Kaylee Mitchell (Seattle Pacific)

Jessica Gockley (Grand Valley State)

Kaylee Bogina (Adams State)

Jennifer Comsastri (Southern Indiana)

Claire Boersma (Augustana)

Madison Goen (Grand Valley State)

*transferring to Oregon State and will not be competing at Nationals

JUST MISSED (in no particular order)

Olivia Willett (Simon Fraser)

Hope Pietrocarlo (Edinboro)

Destiny Everrett (Chico State)