The Washington Cross Country Invitational is the first major meet created in several years.  Before “championship season” starts this is the best meet outside of Pre-Nationals and Wisconsin Adidas both being held in two weeks.  

Last year Greg Metcalf mused, “we should host our own meet,” after competing at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Springfield, Oregon.   He was able to put together a Division 1 only meet with a men’s field that won’t be surpassed until the NCAA championship meet. 

Northern Arizona will bring it’s #3 ranked team with an intent to run well. Coach Eric Heins said, “We have run at the OSU Jamboree, Notre Dame, and Stanford meets in the past but this year wanted to stay on the West coast.”  Futsum Zeneselasie is back to lead the Lumberjacks and the addition of Tyler Byrne from Louisville and Cory Glines from Michigan give the ‘Jacks more NCAA experience.  Those two may not run because of their lack of experience coming down from altitude.  

Coach Heins said about Futsum. “He had a great summer, he was very motivated.  He really loves cross country.”  Northern Arizona has a deep group with redshirt seniors battling for the last few spots on the team.  

Stanford comes to the meet with a long term plan.  The men’s and women’s teams are using this meet to develop their freshmen.  As a result the Cardinal will not dress the Rosas, graduate transfer Korolev and Sean McGorty.   Coach Chris Miltenberg commented before the race, “The home meet was fun but not a pop.  That’s why we added Seattle.”  The plan was to, “take the less experienced and and get more valuable experience.”

        Coach Ron Helmer of Indiana brings in his best squad in years and will have a great chance at proving to the rest of the country what his squad is capable of doing.  Villanova brings their top squad to this meet with Sophomore Patrick Tiernan leading the way.

Portland’s head coach Rob Conner will sit his top 7 men for this meet and run them at Wisconsin Adidas in two weeks.  After victories this season he is pleased with his team’s development.  And everyone is training well.

The women’s competition debuts the freshmen for Stanford.  Elise Cranny is the headline and has been slowly brought along so that she can adjust from a long summer season and to the new requirements from college.  

The  Oregon women will bring all but their top two runners and will have to battle to defeat Stanford, Villanova, and Washington.   The Oregon women will run most of their primary squad for the first time this season.    

Villanova came out to Oregon a few years ago with Sheila Reid and the Wildcats have a strong enough team to challenge for another NCAA title.  Senior Stephanie Schappert leads a mixture of young and experienced teammates to make a run at this title.   

Host Washington has an experienced  and succesful coach in Metcalf and a young squad missing key members Katie Knight and Amy eloise-Nealle.  Senior Maddie Myers won the Sundodger Invitational and coaches are excited about her prospects this season.  

This should be a fun first go at this meet on the site of a future NCAA West Region meet (Jefferson Park Golf Park) and many local watchers and coaches are hoping for a meet of this quality to last on the West Coast.