A season to remember

Women's season full of peaks and valleys

Looking back on the Wolverines' 1998 cross country season, is like watching an action-adventure movie backwards.

Instead of all the best action and inevitable victory for the good guy occurring at the end of the movie, the outcome is reversed.

Although the Wolverines were ranked as high as third in the nation with team victories in each of their first four meets, the remainder of the season held little for the team - except for the record-setting performances of Katie McGregor.

McGregor, Michigan's first cross country national champion, solidified her status as one of the greatest athletes in school history with her breakthrough season. McGregor won every race except for the Michigan Interregional. To top it off, McGregor

DANA LINNANE/Daily The Michigan women's cross country team finished a disappointing 11th at NCAAs after junior Elizabeth Kampfe dropped out of the race.

won an individual NCAA championship.

While McGregor performed consistently throughout the season, the rest of the team faltered towards the end, placing second in the two meets before its 11th place showing at nationals.

Though the team did not perform up to their personal standards, coach Mike McGuire didn't make excuses.

"There were some disappointments," McGuire said. "You can say 'Woulda, coulda, shoulda,' but that won't accomplish anything.

"We tried hard and we had a couple of untimely injuries. We didn't under- or over-achieve."

McGregor, for all she accomplished this season, was still mindful of the team's decline - yet she managed to keep it in perspective.

"A whole lot of effort goes into a season and to put a lot of emphasis in one race is too much," McGregor said. "We've won many races as a team."

While it is easy to say wait until next year, the Wolverines cannot afford that luxury. Among the notable losses include not only McGregor, but also senior Michelle Slater, who was a formidable No. 3 runner in the lineup as well as a leader.

McGuire's focus for next season lies in improving upon an area of difficulty for the team - pack-running.

"If we have five people in the front who can get under the 250th place, we do better (in the national race)," McGuire said. "We need to develop kids who will be mentally and physically prepared for the competition.

"There's no way people will come in and be as good as (McGregor and Slater). Hey, these realities happen. It will be a situation by committee for that particular race day.

"Right now, we don't have someone who will get first in every race, but we have people like (Lisa) Ouellet and (Elizabeth) Kampfe who will place high consistently," McGuire said.

McGregor, who will graduate in May and likely continue training with the team as she pursues a professional running career, doesn't view the success of the team in terms of stats. Interesting, considering the number of new statistical standards she has established this season.

11-30-98