Here is the PreSeason D1 Women’s Individual Preview, from USTFCCCA.org.
Preseason DI Women’s Individual Preview: If Iona’s Avery Repeats, She’d Have Earned It
By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA
September 4, 2015
Note: This preview is not predictive, but simply an overview of the top returners.
NEW ORLEANS – Based off last year’s results and her margin of victory, one would think Iona’s Kate Avery is a shoo-in to repeat as NCAA Division I women’s champion.
Avery won by eight seconds at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana and was never tested after breaking away 1,000 meters into the race. She became the first British woman to ever win a Division I women’s XC title in the process.
She parlayed that breakthrough performance into a successful 2015 track season where she set personal bests in the 3,000 (8:53.12) as well as the 5,000 (15:25.63) and 10,000 (31:44.44). Avery then competed at the2015 IAAF World Championships, where she represented Great Britain in the 10K and continued to learn how to race against elite competition.
If cross country races and national championships were contested on paper, Avery would be crowned champion – but they’re not. There are several other women hot on Avery’s heels and will be looking to dethrone her come November.
