The Michigan women's cross country team began the 1996 season ranked in the nation's top ten, and, at first, everything seemed to be going just as planned.
The Wolverines easily won their first three meets of the year, with runners placing in the top ten individually in each competition.
Then the season collapsed.
Preseason injuries and a young roster combined to lead to the Wolverines' rapid decline from the ranks of the nation's elite teams.
First, there was an unexpected loss to Eastern Michigan in the Michigan Intercollegiate on Oct. 20. Michigan was out of the nationŐs top 25, and things just got worse.
The Wolverines went into districts on Nov. 16 with a lot of tradition to uphold. Michigan had qualified for the NCAAs for the last eight years in a row.
But in 1996, the Wolverines only came close to qualifying. Agonizingly close. In fact, they were just one tripped foot away from a trip -- to nationals.
An opponent's inadvertent shove and a crowded, physical field of runners were all it took to send freshman Elizabeth Kampfe plummeting to the ground and the Wolverines' chance of an NCAA championship berth along with her.
"Our lineup was two seniors, one sophomore and four freshmen, so we were pretty young," McGuire said. "ThatŐs what we're looking forward to, and we'll come back hungrier than ever. We hope missing the nationals was just an aberration, and not something thatŐs going to continue. And I don't think it will."
09-03-97
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