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TSR's 2023 D2 XC Top 25 Individual Rankings (Women): Update #1
- TSR Collaboration
- Oct 10, 2023
- 16 min read
Written by Marissa Kuik & Grace McLaughlin
Additional commentary and edits by Gavin Struve & Garrett Zatlin
Do you have an interest in writing for The Stride Report? We are looking for knowledgable high school coverage writers, D2 coverage writers and D3 coverage writers who can help us with our rankings and previews! Want to know more? Read this and send us an email at contact@thestridereport.com to let us know!
NOTE: These rankings are based on how an individual fared throughout the entirety of a season, not just how they ran at a singular meet or (eventually) at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships. Click here to learn more about our ranking criteria.
KEY
(Unranked):
Was not ranked in our last update.
(#/#):
First number indicates how much the athlete has moved in the rankings.
The second number indicates where the athlete was ranked in our last update.
25. Molly Maksin, Senior, Colorado Mines (-14 / 11)
The season has gotten off to a bit of a tough start for this Oredigger veteran. After finishing so high up at the past two cross country national meets, Molly Maksin seemed poised to take the lead for this talented team with the graduation of Zoe Baker. However, after a series of just “okay” performances, Maksin had to take a drop in our rankings.
At Colorado Mines’ first race in Boulder, Maksin settled for the back of the Orediggers’ scoring lineup, placing 9th overall and fifth on the team. However, her performance at the Lewis XC Crossover was even more concerning. She ended up outside of the team’s top-seven and crossed the line 35th place overall. These were unexpected results for Maksin who typically finds herself in the top-10 of most fields.
Her slow start is hardly cause to write her off entirely given what we know she’s capable of, but until she finds that competitive edge once again, she will have to settle for TSR #25.
24. Clare Peters, Senior, Colorado Mines (Unranked)
Clare Peters was a surprise competitor for the Orediggers last year when she transferred from a Division One club team. She went on to help Colorado Mines earn a 3rd place finish at the NCAA XC Championships and just missed an All-American finish, placing 47th individually.
This season, Peters has been incredibly consistent as she looks to help her team return to the podium. At both the CU Time Trial and the Lewis XC Crossover, Peters finished as either Mines’ first or second scorer and landed within the top-10 among all individuals. Though her team does not have a clear low-stick, Peters’ ongoing ability to lead this top-heavy lineup has paid dividends so far.
Though she may not turn into a superstar low-stick capable of reaching the top-10, she does not necessarily have to that in order to succeed on the national stage. Peters has raced with a lot of poise so far this fall and in the past. She looks ready to carry her success into the final month (and some change) of the season.
23. Hannah Smrcka, Junior, Lewis (Unranked)
Saturday couldn't have gone much better for the Lewis Flyers. Both the men's and women's teams finished 3rd overall in the national-caliber fields, significantly surpassing expectations on their home course. And while the team race will gain all of the attention, the rise of Hanna Smrcka deserves plenty of kudos as well.
The Lewis distance standout was a very solid distance runner for Seton Hill last fall, emerging as one of the better names in the PSAC and the Atlantic region before qualifying for the national meet. Upon transferring to Lewis, Smracka ran times of 16:56 (5k) and 35:08 (10k).
Despite the progress that this rising low-stick was making, I'm not sure that we expected her. to finish 8th overall in a field as loaded as the Lewis XC Crossover. And when you pair that result with a quietly-great 10th place finish at the National Catholic Invite against the Notre Dame women, you begin to realize that Smrcka may be the real deal.
22. Holly Moser, Senior, Colorado Mines (Unranked)
Holly Moser has a very similar profile to her teammate, Clare Peters, but the biggest difference is the development that Moser has experienced during her extended tenure as an Oredigger.
The Colorado Mines veteran has climbed her way to the top of this team, going from not even making the national meet lineup in 2022 to now being one of the leaders of this squad.
Moser ran similar times and produced similar placements to Peters at the CU Time Trial and the Lewis XC Crossover. She finished in the top-10 of both races and helped lead the Orediggers to a solid win at the latter.
Again, Mines is without Zoe Baker who was their top runner for so long. And with Maksin struggling just a bit in the early going of these fall months, Moser, along with Peters, has stepped in capably to a low-stick role. Her best placement at the cross country national meet has “only” been 61st, but based off of her rate of improvement, she may be closer to a top-20 runner this fall.
21. Linda Weigang, Freshman, Fort Lewis (Unranked)
True freshman Linda Weigang is looking to make a splash this year in Division Two. After her first two opening races at a couple of small meets in Colorado, this breakout rookie talent showed us that she could hang with some of the best talents in the nation, placing 6th overall at the Lewis XC Crossover.
Both of Weigang’s early results, at medium-sized meets in the state of Colorado were good, but they weren’t anything eye-popping, either. What catapulted Weigang into our rankings was her performance at Lewis. There, she finished ahead of a couple of All-Americans and within seconds of some of the fastest runners in Division Two, including Klaudia O’Malley (TSR #10) and Kylie Anicic (TSR #13).
If Weigang can continue to run with the confidence of a veteran, then she may already be one of Division Two’s better runners in her debut season. Her inexperience in the postseason is something to monitor, but the talent, at least on one major stage, is very clearly present.
20. Gianna Bomarito, Sophomore, Sonoma State (Unranked)
After winning a large race like the Griak Invitational, it would be difficult to leave Gianna Bomarito out of our rankings. Of course, it helps her cause that she not only ran away from the rest of the competition in the “Maroon" race in Minneapolis, but she has also shown real consistency that she’s carried over from then 2023 outdoor track season.
Furthermore, Bomarito ran away with another title in her first race, the Ash Creek Collegiate Invitational. With two very impressive wins, this Sonoma State ace is demonstrating her emergence as potentially one of the best women in Division Two right now.
Bomarito never failed to be a competitive name throughout the entirety of last year. However, she failed to make it out of her regional meet last fall and didn’t compete during the most recent indoor track season before thriving over 10,000 meters in the spring.
Now, she is carrying that momentum to the grass where she should be a factor on the national stage this time around.
19. Rosie Fordham, Junior, Alaska Fairbanks (Unranked)
Rosie Fordham is no stranger to racing at a high level in Division Two. She has reached a pair of national meets and typically finishes in the top-five of most races that she contests. The only thing that eludes her is an All-American finish which is the reason why Fordham sometimes escapes our rankings.
However, after a few solid performances and a couple of wins to begin the fall, Fordham enters our rankings for the first time this cross country season.
The Alaska Fairbanks star has placed 1st, 3rd and 1st again in her three races this fall, with the most recent being her win at the San Francisco State Invitational over a handful of West region foes. For her to take down every single one of those competitors, including her own teammates, at the very least signals that she'll be fit enough to be a top-half All-American in November.
18. Emily Schoellkopf, Junior, Adams State (-2 / 16)
Overall, Emily Schoellkopf has lived up to the expectations set for her. After a stellar track season, this often-underrated Grizzly distance talent will look to ride that momentum into the rest of these fall. Her first race was stellar, but just like the rest of her teammates, her second effort left more to be desired.
After a standard rust-buster, Schoellkopf ventured to the Louisville XC Classic. While in Kentucky, she fared well, but we were also looking for a bit more, both from her and her teammates. Based on Schoellkopf’s ability, we pictured her finishing more towards the top-15 rather than barely in the top-25 (she took 25th overall).
Though she may have a few tweaks to make, Schoellkopf has proven that she race well when it matters most on the biggest stages, so we expect her to come back strong in the postseason. Her most recent outdoor track season makes her too good to ignore.
17. Morgan Hykes, Junior, Adams State (-2 / 15)
Historically, Morgan Hykes and Emily Schoellkopf have had pretty similar resumes, especially over the past year, and this cross country season has proven to be no different.
In her first race, Hykes came away with a 6th place finish at Adams State’s home meet, finishing only a few seconds behind her teammate, Schoellkopf. It was a good opening performance, but we knew there was definitely more in the tank for this Grizzly.
At the Live in Lou XC Classic, Hykes arguably lived up to expectations, at least relative to how she performed in her first race. She separated herself from Schoellkopf and came away with a 22nd place finish. It was a decent effort, but we were still looking for more from a woman who was in the top-15 portion of our preseason rankings.
16. Anna Fauske, Junior, UC-Colorado Springs (+5 / 21)
The growth of Anna Fauske has been fun to witness this season.
Fauske was a strong component of the Mountain Lions’ cross country team as a freshman before helping her squad to a podium appearance last year with a 24th place finish at the cross country national meet. But now, she is looking to improve even further, and early returns suggest that she can definitely make some moves up the Division Two landscape.
The still-rising UC-Colorado Springs talent took home the win at her home meet to the season, following in the footsteps of the now-graduated Layla Almasri. Then, at the Louisville Classic, Fauske put on an impressive showing and finished in 14th place.
Fauske easily held her own and finished almost 20 spots higher than where she placed at this same meet last year. She defeated numerous Adams State standouts and simply delivered on the high expectations that we had for her. At the rate that Fauske is improving, she could soon find herself as a top-15 name in the country which this ranking hints at.
15. Kate Hedlund, Junior, UC-Colorado Springs (+4 / 19)
Similar to her teammate, Anna Fauske, Kate Hedlund has shown impressive progression and growth since the first time that she put on the Mountain Lion jersey. This budding veteran has qualified for multiple national meets and finished 20th at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships. Not only that, but Hedlund is showing that she had even further room to improve after that top-half All-American showing.
At the Live in Lou XC Classic, Hedlund again ran with Fauske, improving upon her finish last year at the same meet, going from 24th to an incredible 13th place!
At the rate that they are steadily improving, don’t be surprised to see a pair of Mountain Lions crowding the front of the field on the national stage in November, potentially in the top-10. Momentum is very much on their side.
14. Kendall Kramer, Junior, Alaska Fairbanks (-6 / 8)
Like her teammate, Rosie Fordham, Kendall Kramer has spent the last couple of years consistently finishing toward the front of virtually every race she contests. Where she has separated herself is through her postseason success, as evidenced by a GNAC title and an 8th place All-American finish on the national stage last fall.
However, Kramer has taken a small tumble in our rankings as her past few results have been a bit modest in relation to that incredible 8th place All-American. The Alaska Fairbanks standout has had to settle for 4th place finishes at both the WWU Bill Roe Classic and the San Francisco State Invitational. In our eyes, those are races that she should have won.
Even so, we’re not discounting her history as a proven and dynamic championship racer as we enter the time in the season when she’s at her best.
13. Kylie Anicic, Rs. Junior, Edinboro (+5 / 18)
Kylie Anicic has been riding a lot of momentum since her All-American turn last fall and she is living up to expectations with an incredible first-half of this new season on the grass.
In her first two races, she took home wins, and then in her first true test at the Lewis XC Crossover, she finished an impressive 5th place, holding her own against the talented field.
The rate that she is improving now bodes well for her as we progress into championship season. With continued tweaks, Anicic should be in the top pack in any postseason meet as she looks to have taken another leap in fitness. It also helps that this past weekend was more competitive than any race she toed the line for going into last year's NCAA XC Championships.
12. Liz Wamsley, Junior, Hillsdale (+2 / 14)
Liz Wamsley moves up two spots and cracks the top-half of our rankings after some really strong performances in the midwest. The Hillsdale junior won both the Warrior Challenge and the Lansing XC Invitational, which weren’t big meets by any means, but her results were promising, nonetheless.
Of course, the talent and fitness of this Hillsdale veteran were tested at the Lewis XC Crossover and her 4th place finish exceeded our already-high expectations. She nearly beat Klaudia O’Malley and finished ahead of several strong Division Two runners.
That kind of performance clearly indicates that Wamsley isn't slowing down from the noticeable progression that she built over the last year. If she keeps up her current momentum, then there’s no reason why the Hillsdale star couldn’t be at the front of the chase pack come November.
11. Allison Beasley, Junior, Western Colorado (+1 / 12)
Allison Beasley moves up one position in our first rankings update after two convincing early-season performances. The Western Colorado star first dominated her team’s rust-buster meet, winning the Mountaineer Invite by 33 seconds.
Of course, Beasley's talent was truly showcased at the Chile Pepper XC Festival where her 8th place finish against a legitimate Division One field proved to be very impressive. The Mountaineer ace has successfully translated her talent in the steeplechase to the grass and her overall aerobic strength continues to shine.
Even so, it would be nice to see her match up against a more D2-centric field, something that she'll be able to do at the upcoming RMAC XC Championships. That race will give us a better idea of just how dangerous she can be on the national stage.
10. Klaudia O'Malley, Senior, Grand Valley State (-6 / 4)
Dropping Klaudia O'Malley down to TSR #10 may seem a bit harsh, especially since she has reached the podium at the past two NCAA XC Championships, but the Laker senior has only been “solid” so far this fall, not necessarily "amazing".
O’Malley is definitely someone who builds momentum throughout the season and we’re not terribly concerned about her fitness level or postseason outlook just yet. However, when she is losing head-to-head matchups with other ranked athletes, we have to see the results for face value.
The Laker star opened her senior season with an 18th place finish at the Auto-Owners Spartan Invitational and then improved to a very solid 15th place result at the Live in Lou XC Classic in her next outing. These were “good” results, but with O’Malley’s resume and overall level of talent, it’s hard not to want more from her.
The Laker ace also raced at the Lewis XC Crossover despite most of Grand Valley’s “A” team sitting out. Thankfully, her bronze medal performance seemingly signaled a strong rebound. Her next few races will be telling in terms of how she fares against the elevated depth of Division Two.
9. Kaylee Beyer, Senior, Winona State (Unranked)
When you see the words "Winona State," you likely immediately think of Lindsay Cunningham. But make no mistake, the Warriors appear to have developed another low-stick superstar in Kaylee Beyer. The rapidly-improving low-stick veteran has been solid over the past few years, but it’s safe to say that she is on another level this fall.
Beyer started her 2023 fall campaign with a runner-up performance at the Greeno/Dirksen Invite behind Cunningham which didn't come as a surprise. However, she really staked her claim as an elite talent at the Lewis XC Crossover, recording another runner-up finish, this time holding off established names like O’Malley and Wamsley comfortably.
This phenomenal performance elevated Beyer from a “Just Missed” name up to TSR #9 as a clear display of her increased fitness, confidence and overall firepower.
8. Eleonora Curtabbi, Senior, West Texas A&M (-3 / 5)
Eleonora Curtabbi drops a few spots in our rankings this week, mostly due to the fact that we’ve only seen her race once so far and other runners have recorded arguably more impressive results.
The West Texas A&M steeplechase star sat out of her team’s two rust-buster meets after competing on the oval throughout the summer months. She later opened her season with a 10th place finish at the Live in Lou XC Classic and was 6th among Division Two runners.
That was a solid result and about what we would expect from a runner of her caliber, but we need to see more from her to keep her among the top-five of our rankings.
7. Ana Tucker, Senior, Grand Valley State (+3 / 10)
We put Ana Tucker at TSR #10 in our preseason rankings based on her upside and potential, and luckily, she has met and maybe even exceeded our expectations. Tucker moves up to TSR #7 after showing a smooth transition to Division Two while recording very impressive results in her first two races for the Lakers.
The Grand Valley State newcomer made her Division Two debut with a 4th place finish at the Auto-Owners Spartan Invitational. She put herself in elite company by finishing between her established teammates Lauren Kiley and Natalie Graber. That was a fantastic and highly-potent low-stick performance, but validation on another big stage felt necessary.
But sure enough, at the Live in Lou XC Classic, Tucker successfully rose to the challenge with her 9th place finish, further validating the idea that she is a legitimately elite name in D2 this fall. We knew she would be good, but this is probably on the better end of what we thought this former Hope College runner was going to produce.
6. Lauren Kiley, Sophomore, Grand Valley State (0 / 6)
To put it simply, Lauren Kiley is an absolute juggernaut on the grass.
She sustains her spot at TSR #6 after some very impressive performances thus far this fall. The Grand Valley State star may be relatively young, but she competes like a true veteran and her early-season success validates her 7th place finish from the 2022 NCAA XC Championships.
Put simply, she may be the future (and present) face of this powerhouse program.
The Laker sophomore finished ahead of several of her talented and more established teammates after recording a runner-up finish at the Auto-Owners Spartan Invitational. She then built on her momentum with a fantastic 5th place finish at the Live in Lou XC Classic, further proving that she is not afraid to stick her nose into tough competition.
There's an argument for Kiley to be ranked higher given her proven national meet success, surprisingly extensive experience and still-building momentum. But for now, we'll keep her just outside of the top-five.
5. Sarah Koomson, Freshman, West Texas A&M (Unranked)
It is rare for someone to enter our rankings for the first time and be placed well inside the top-10, but it is even more rare when a freshman proves themselves worthy of being among this kind of elite company.
Enter Sarah Koomson who has quickly emerged as a top talent for West Texas A&M -- and what we’ve seen from her so far really shakes things up for the national picture.
The freshman from Ghana made her NCAA debut with a win at the Big Country Festival and followed it up with another victory at the Texas Tech Open. Those two races certainly put her on our radar, but that couldn't have prepared us for her outstanding 3rd place finish at the Live in Lou XC Classic which was admittedly a bit shocking.
Taking down names like Lauren Kiley and Brianna Robles is highly impressive and left us with no choice but to put her in our top-10.
Koomson will be an exciting name to watch as we head into the latter portion of the season. Yes, we have Robles still ranked ahead of her, but that could very easily change if this Buffalo rookie continues to run like this. Her inexperience is something to keep in mind, but her talent is undeniably excellent.
4. Natalie Graber, Senior, Grand Valley State (+5 / 9)
Natalie Graber jumps up five spots in our rankings to TSR #4 after her first two races, but truthfully, we probably undervalued her in the preseason.
The Laker veteran started off the season strong with a 5th place finish at the Auto-Owners Spartan Invitational, but that performance did not tell us much about her status when it comes to the overall picture of the D2 national stage.
Luckily, we got to see her face a loaded field at the Live in Lou XC Classic and she validated her competitive prowess with a runner-up finish while crossing the line as the top Division Two runner. That was a fantastic performance for the Grand Valley State ace and we have raised our expectations accordingly for what she is capable of moving forward.
3. Brianna Robles, Senior, Adams State (0 / 3)
Brianna Robles stays at TSR #3 in our first update of rankings after a solid start to her season. The Grizzly senior unsurprisingly won her team’s rust-buster at the Joe I. Vigil Open and performed on par with what we would expect from her early in the season.
Her first real competition and test of fitness came at the Live in Lou XC Classic where she faced some of the top individuals in the country. Robles placed 7th overall and fourth among Division Two runners. That was a relatively decent performance for the Adams State ace, but we expected her to be in the top-five given her level of experience and raw aerobic talent.
We’re not terribly worried about that result for Robles. Overall, she’s in a strong spot for this point in the season and we expect that she’ll continue to build momentum over the next few weeks. Although, another "good but not great" result may lead to a small drop in our top-25.
2. Stephanie Cotter, Senior, Adams State (0 / 2)
Has not competed this season.
1. Lindsay Cunningham, Junior, Winona State (0 / 1)
Lindsay Cunningham maintains her TSR #1 position after dominating her first two competitions. The Winona State megastar started her season off with a 48-second win at the Greeno/Dirksen Invite. The Warrior ace later continued her success at the Lewis XC Crossover which is one of the most competitive Division Two meets of the season.
That, however, didn't faze her. Cunningham proved to be in a league of her own as she crossed the line 54 seconds ahead of the runner-up finisher which just so happened to be her teammate, Kaylee Beyer.
We knew Cunningham was going to be phenomenal this season, but she has surpassed even our loftiest expectations for her. She improved her time at the Lewis XC Crossover from last year by 44 seconds and left some of the top runners in the country in the dust. With her consistent front-running firepower and impressive margins of victory, Cunningham has made it clear that she is the best runner in Division Two until further notice.
ADDED
Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)
Kaylee Beyer (Winona State)
Rosie Fordham (Alaska Fairbanks)
Ava O'Connor (Adams State)
Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)
Linda Weigang (Fort Lewis)
Holly Moser (Colorado Mines)
Clare Peters (Colorado Mines)
KICKED OFF
Elise Leveel (West Texas A&M)
MaKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)
Katie Heck (Fort Lewis)
Naomi Bailey (Alaska Fairbanks)
Taryn Chapko (Grand Valley State)
McKenna Cavanaugh (Lee (Tenn.))
JUST MISSED (in no particular order)
Alyssa Becker (U-Mary)
Helen Braybrook (CSU-Pueblo)
Hannah Rhem (Cedarville)
Kira MacGill (Colorado Mesa)
Nicole Lawrence (Adams State)
Aria Hawkins (Lee (Tenn.))
Vienna Lahner (Adams State)
Elise Leveel (West Texas A&M)
Katie Heck (Fort Lewis)
Margaux Basart (Colorado Mines)
MaKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)
Ava O'Connor (Adams State)
HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order)
Riley McGrath (Colorado Mines)
Naomi Bailey (Alaska Fairbanks)
Khot Juac (Sioux Falls)
Taryn Chapko (Grand Valley State)
Kayce Rypma (Grand Valley State)
Grace Strongman (Colorado Mines)
Paige Tack (Colorado Christian)
Savannah Ackley (Cedarville)
McKenna Cavanaugh (Lee (Tenn.))
Regan Hodsden (Fort Hays State)
Aubrey Surage (Augustana (SD))
Abby VanderKooi (Grand Valley State)
Mollie Scott (Wingate)
Fiona Hawkins (Adams State)
Alexa Keiser (Saginaw Valley State)
Leah Taylor (Western Colorado)
Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge (Colorado Mines)
Flora Tissier (Charleston (WV))
Shannon King (Colorado Christian)
Ashley Reeck (Western Washington)
Elena Carey (Adams State)
