Women harriers ready for regionals

The Michigan women's cross country team is hoping that history does not repeat itself.

Last year, the Wolverines placed a disappointing fourth in the NCAA Regionals after winning them the previous three years, and it was the first time in nine years that Michigan did not go the the national championships.

This weekend the Wolverines travel to Bloomington for this year's regionals with high hopes of finishing first or second, which would enable them to advance to the NCAA championships in South Carolina at the end of the month.

Joining the Wolverines will be teams from the rest of the states in the Great Lakes Region, including Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. The third-ranked Badgers are favored to win the meet, with competition for second place from No. 17 Michigan, No. 22 Marquette, No. 25 Ball State, Ohio and Bowling Green.

The Wolverines who will be participating are Katie McGregor, Julie Froud, Lisa Ouellet, Elizabeth Kampfe, Katie Clifford, Michelle Slater and Allison Noe.

Throughout the season, Michigan's weakness has been its runners in the back of the pack. But with two weeks to practice before this meet and a strong performance at Big Tens, the Wolverines have been slowly closing the gap between the third and fourth runners.

The key for the Wolverines, if they're to run down Wisconsin, is to keep themselves tightly packed and work together.

"We have to get Wisconsin's pack split up if we hope to beat them," Michigan coach Mike McGuire said. "At Big Tens, we gave them a really good run, so now we have to close in."

McGuire said that Michigan is capable of putting at least five of the seven runners in the top 25. Strong performances by the front runners - McGregor, Kampfe and Froud - will be advantageous to the Wolverines, but will not win the meet.

"Our success is predicated on seven," McGuire said. "We can't get much better out of McGregor and Kampfe, but there are people capable of splitting them up, so everyone's role is important."

The course at Indiana is different than the one Michigan ran two weeks ago at Big Tens. It may prove advantageous for the Wolverines since it is similar to the Michigan golf course, on which they practice.

"It's a good challenge for the athletes and a good spectator course," McGuire said. "Indiana will tell you that it is tougher than ours, but I don't think it is."

Whether the course is difficult or not, the Wolverines are confident.

"We're at an advantage this year," Clifford said. "Because we have such strong front runners, and we're working together and encouraging each other, we can push each other to the front."

11-13-97