D2 Outdoor Top 20: Update #6 (Women)

matthewholcomb0412
May 8, 2019
5 min read

KEY

(Unranked)

Was not ranked the week before

(#/#)

First number indicates the change in a runner's ranking from week prior

Second number indicates where the runner was ranked last week

20. Bailey Sharon | Western Colorado (SO) (-2 / 18)

Idle

19. Olivia Woods | Western Oregon (SR) (Unranked)

Woods is back in the rankings for the first time this season since the preseason edition due to her having her best meet of this outdoor season at the Portland Twilight. She finished 7th overall in the 800 (1st in D2) with a provisional time of 2:07.93, which is a season best by two seconds and puts her at #7 on D2 leaderboard in that event. She also helped the Western Oregon 4x4 team to a season best time of 3:55.79.

18. Liz Bloch | Michigan Tech (SR) (+1 / 19)

Welp, Bloch proved that her 1500 PR of 4:24.67 that she ran earlier this season was no fluke, as she almost matched it at the GLIAC Championships. She took home the 1500 win in dominant fashion with a 4:24.73, winning by just over six seconds over Allie Ludge. She also dipped down to the 400 and picked up a PR with a time of 57.47 in prelims to make the finals. She then helped the Michigan Tech 4x4 to a 6th place finish.

17. Alana Mussatto | Simon Fraser (SR) (0 / 17)

Mussatto ran her third 400 of the season this weekend at the Portland Twilight, as she ran a season best of 57.10. She also helped the Simon Fraser 4x4 grab the win, running a 3:46.18.

16. Gina Patterson | Grand Valley State (JR) (0 / 16)

Patterson continues her impressive run this season, as she took home the win in the 5k at the GLIAC Championships. She was not far off her season best, running a 16:42.71, winning by about 15 seconds.

15. Sophie Dodd | Simon Fraser (SR) (0 / 15)

After getting a week off from racing for the first time in about a month, Dodd returned this week to help the Simon Fraser 4x4 to a win at the Portland Twilight.

14. Andra Lehotay | Walsh (JR) (0 / 14)

Lehotay returned to winning form this weekend at the G-MAC Championships. She took home the win in the 1500 with a time of 4:35.67, which is far off her PR, but it was a solid (and encouraging) victory. She also ran a 2:11.44 in the 800, which is just a second off of her PR, to finish 2nd overall. This is the best Lehotay has looked since early April in my eyes.

13. Kristen Metcalfe | Embry-Riddle (SR) (0 / 13)

After getting a late start to the season, Metcalfe has now raced for three straight weeks. She ran another 800 this past weekend, as she soloed a 2:12.59. It looks like she is just trying to get some races in her legs to prepare for Nationals which is right around the corner.

12. Allie Ludge | Grand Valley State (JR) (-1 / 11)

It is still a mystery on what Ludge is going to choose to run at Nationals as the season comes to an end. We saw her in the 1500 this past weekend at the GLIAC Championships where she finished 2nd behind only Liz Bloch. She ran a 4:31.29, which is far off her season best of 4:22.33.

11. Carsyn Koch-Johnson | Cedarville (SR) (-1 / 10)

Idle

10. Julia Howley | Simon Fraser (SR) (-1 / 9)

Howley continues to impress this season, as she picked up another steeplechase win this past weekend at the Portland Twilight where she soloed a 10:05.47, which is just a couple seconds off her best time of the season. Howley has not been in a steeplechase race this season where she has been pushed so I am excited to see what she can do when she has competition. She is only pushed back in our rankings due to exceptional performances from a few others.

9. Danielle McCormick | Alaska Anchorage (SR) (-1 / 8)

McCormick had a really light load this weekend, as she only participated in the 4x4. She did help her team to a win, as they ran a time of 4:02.41, winning by almost seven seconds.

8. Stephanie Cotter | Adams State (FR) (+4 / 12)

Welp, after seeing the results this past weekend, I would like to publicly apologize for dropping you so many spots a couple weeks ago, Stephanie. After coming off an indoor title, I had high expectations for her this season and the month of April was not a great one. Of course, Cotter turned it around last week at Payton Jordan. Finishing 2nd overall in her race and as the top collegiate in her field, Cotter ran a 1500 PR and auto qualifying time of 4:19.84, which is now the #3 ranked time in D2. She has reaffirmed her position as a national title contender.

7. Leah Hanle | Mount Olive (JR) (0 / 7)

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6. Roisin Flanagan | Adams State (JR) (0 / 6)

Flanagan returned to the 1500 last week at Payton Jordan, finishing 5th overall and as the top collegiate in the field. She did not match her season best, but she still ran a very quick time of 4:17.53. She remains the top ranked 1500 runner in D2.

5. Rachael Walters | Grand Valley State (SR) (0 / 5)

As expected, Walters took the easy win in the 800 this past weekend at the GLIAC Championship meet, running a time of 2:07.74. She also led her 4x4 team to a win and a provisional time of 3:41.31, which currently sits at #8 in D2.

4. Skylyn Webb | UC Colorado-Springs (SR) (-1 / 3)

Idle

3. Alicja Konieczek | Western Colorado (SR) (+1 / 4)

Konieczek’s steeplechase season debut went about as we expected. She ran a 9:52.32 at Payton Jordan, finishing 3rd overall and as the top D2 runner in the field. That time is the top time in D2, which now puts her in the top five of D2 in the 1500, 5k, and steeplechase.

2. Eilish Flanagan | Adams State (JR) (0 / 2)

We finally saw Flanagan run her first steeplechase of the season this weekend at Payton Jordan. It was an extremely impressive performance by her, as she finished 4th overall and as the second D2 athlete (only behind Konieczek) running a PR of 9:55.25. Flanagan is now #4 in the 1500, #2 in the 5k, and #2 in the steeplechase on the D2 leaderboard. She is a real threat to end Konieczek’s steeplechase reign.

1. Caroline Kurgat | Alaska Anchorage (SR) (0 / 1)

Is there any event Kurgat cannot do? In only her second 800 ever, Kurgat ran a PR of 2:09.90 for the win at the Linfield Open. She most certainly will not do this event come championship time, but it is extremely impressive that she can be ranked first in D2 in the 10k and also have a top 15 time in the 800.