Irish women receive at-large bid to NCAA Champs
By KATHLEEN O'BRIEN
Assistant Sports Editor
The Irish women's cross country team received the best surprise possible yesterday — an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 22.
The Irish finished fourth in the district meet Saturday. The top two teams from each of nine districts across the nation receive automatic bids, and the Irish were one of 13 teams to receive an at-large bid.
"We had beaten three teams that were automatic qualifiers — Florida, Brown and Missouri, and then a bunch of teams that were at-large considerations," women's head coach Tim Connelly said. "Once Michigan got in, we were the next team in."
Following Saturday's race, the team was not optimistic about its chances for a berth at nationals. Notre Dame's chances of running at nationals hinged upon third-place finisher Michigan, a team which had not run well during much of the season, receiving a spot.
"It's a very unexpected ending, but a great ending," said senior Patty Rice. "Last year we were in the same position. We were fourth at the district meet hoping for an at-large bid and it didn't happen. We didn't want to be on that emotional roller coaster again. It's just nice to know that hard work does pay off."
This is only the second time a Notre Dame women's cross country team has qualified for the NCAA meet, the first since 1993.
"We're thrilled," head Notre Dame cross country and track coach Joe Piane said. "The ladies have worked very, very hard since day one. They've had some difficult things to overcome this season. They're making a step up towards national respectability."
Even more impressively, the team made nationals this year despite a number of roadblocks which stood in its way. Freshman Jennifer Handley ran at districts although recovering from a sore back, senior captain Erin Luby raced despite being sick, and Rice ran after twisting her ankle in the warm-up. The Irish also competed without senior All-American JoAnna Deeter, who is no longer running for the team.
"This is going to be a great experience," Connelly said. "A lot of these kids have been aiming for this for four years. All the things that had to happen happened. The thing that we've got to do is run a lot more consistently and intelligently than we did the other day."
The Irish used a senior-dominated lineup in qualifying for nationals, with Allison Klemmer, Nicole LaSelle, Luby and Rice all in their final season.
Senior Allison Klemmer had already received an automatic bid to race at nationals as an individual. She placed sixth at districts, and is aiming to be an All-American.
"We've been hoping to qualify every year, and fourth time's a charm for us seniors, I guess," Klemmer said.
Joining Klemmer, Handley, LaSelle, Luby and Rice in the race will be juniors Chrissy Kuenster and Erin Olson.
The NCAA Championships will be held Monday in Bloomington, Ind. The No. 8 Irish men's cross country team received an automatic bid to race at nationals after finishing second in the district meet.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, November 16, 1999
