TSR's "If Everything Was Normal" D3 Top 20 XC Rankings: #10-6 (Women)

Additional contributions from Kevin Fischer

As mentioned in our rankings rubric article, we are aware that certain conferences and universities will not be competing this fall due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19. However, for the sake of content, we have constructed these rankings as if a regular cross country season will happen.

10. Katie Collins, Senior, MIT

9. Izzi Gengaro, Junior, MIT

Izzi Gengaro and Katie Collins were expected to come into the 2020 season with a unique honor: Being the best 1-2 punch from the 2019 National Championships. At the national meet, Gengaro placing 10th while Collins placed 15th.

The great news is that they are both back for the 2020 season. The bad news is that a global pandemic cancelled the National Championships. Regardless, these two women form a terrific duo that could have yet again been the best 1-2 punch in the country.

Last year, Collins had a solid resume of racing throughout the entire season, placing 3rd at NEWMAC Championships and later 5th at the New England Regional Championships before finishing 15th at Nationals to cap off a solid postseason.

Taking 72nd at Nationals in 2018, Collins made a huge improvement from the year prior, and it definitely showed on the track with her blazing 17:05 5k from the 2020 indoor track season.

While she didn’t race as much, Gengaro made her 2019 cross country debut at mid-season and came into terrific form. She was 2nd at the always competitive Connecticut College Invitational and later won titles at both the NEWMAC Championships and New England Championships. A 10th place finish at Nationals was an encouraging way to finish off what was a very impressive 2019 cross country season

It would have been great to see this duo battle against the Carleton pairing of Mosborg and Mayfield this fall, but their time will come.

8. Carina Collet, Senior, Wartburg

As a proven performer on the grass, Carina Collet has established herself as one of the better distance performers in D3 when it comes to consistency.

After taking 16th at the National Championships in 2018, Collet came into the 2019 season ready to prove herself once again. Winning the John Kurtt Invitational, as well as the American Rivers Conference Championships, were two highlights of her season along with a runner-up finish at the Central Regional Championships. Culminating her season with an 11th place finish at the national meet surely had to be a nice close, but she’s also capable of improving upon that result.

For someone who has remained a constant force on the D3 scene like Collet, a top 10 finish would have been very possible for her this fall at the national meet not been cancelled.

If she doesn't end up competing this fall (which seems to be the case for most D3 schools and conferences) then we could also see her earn some additional All-American finishes in the 5k and 10k on the track...whenever competition returns.

7. Evie Bultemeyer, Senior, Trine

As one of the best middle distance talents of D3, Evie Bultemyer has proven that she’s also lethal on the grass, especially after taking 8th place at last year’s national meet.

As a dominant force in the Great Lakes region, Bultemyer has terrific talent all around, ranging from the 400 meters on the track, all the way up to the 6k in cross country. She took home four wins last year -- including the MIAA and Great Lakes titles -- and followed that up with an outstanding 8th place finish at Nationals. Not too bad for someone who quadrupled in the 400/800/Mile/4x400 on the track, huh?

Even though her terrific indoor season got cut short, she should be able to carry the momentum of running 2:11 in the 800 meters and 4:53 in the mile into the next cross country season (whenever that may be).

6. Whitney Rich, Senior, Whitman

Rich is coming off of an incredible 2019 cross country season where she established herself as one of the most formidable distance runners in D3. She ran away with the win at Northwest Conference Championships and later took the victory at the West regional meet, setting herself up for an outstanding 4th place finish at Nationals. This was a huge improvement on her previous two cross country seasons where she did not qualify for the national meet.

Whitman College does not have an indoor track program, so the only time Rich competed after the cross country national meet was an opener for the outdoor track season where she ran a 5k PR of 17:58. She has also displayed versatility with impressive 2:16 800 meter speed, and she has gone 4:38 in the 1500 meters as well.

For some fans of the sport, it may be odd to see the 4th place finisher from last year's national meet listed at TSR #6 in our preseason ranked. However, most of the top finishers from last year's national meet were set to return this fall while others simply faced better competition during the regular season or posted far better marks on the track.

Regardless, Rich has proven to be a uniquely strong talent capable of competing with some of the best women in the country.