Nov. 18, 2003
The University of Notre Dame women’s cross country team made history last weekend with its second-straight NCAA Great Lakes Regional title, becoming the first Irish cross country team to claim a regional meet victory two consecutive years. The women have now found out which teams they will be facing in the NCAA Championship meet on Monday, Nov. 24, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Notre Dame women were automatically placed in the field after their regional victory, which followed up on its second-straight BIG EAST Championship on Oct. 31. Consistently rated as one of the top teams in the nation, the squad finished third at last season’s NCAA Championship and is looking to improve, or match, that outcome this season.
Here is a look at the 2003 NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championship field:
Automatic qualifiers – Michigan, NOTRE DAME, Georgetown, Princeton, Missouri, Nebraska, Brigham Young, Colorado, Columbia, Providence, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas, Baylor, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Stanford, UCLA.
At-large qualifiers – Arizona State, Colorado State, Duke, Indiana, Marquette, Michigan State, Northern Arizona, Penn State, UCSB, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington, Wisconsin
A number of individuals were automatic and at-large invitations as well.
The Notre Dame women will be led by sophomore Molly Huddle, who claimed the NCAA Great Lakes regional individual title last weekend. Huddle finished sixth at the 2002 NCAA Championship and should be among the favorites for the individual title this season. Notre Dame will be making its fourth consecutive appearance as a team at the NCAA Championship next week.
The Irish men’s team, ranked 30th in the latest MONDO national poll, was not selected for the NCAA field this season. Notre Dame’s two top runners did qualify, however, as senior Todd Mobley and sophomore Tim Moore will make the trip to the NCAA Championship to compete as individuals. Mobley and Moore’s participation will mark the 13th consecutive season the Notre Dame men have had a presence at the NCAA Championship meet.