Stanford impresses as top teams roll through weekend

By Adam Schneider of DyeStat

Second-ranked Stanford broke its local camp and dominated the University of San Diego Invitational without its expected top two runners. Sophomore Fiona O’Keeffe led three teammates to the first four positions on the 6-kilometer course as they all came in at 21:35 and the team scored 22 points.

Fifth-ranked Arkansas impressed with their depth as they traveled across the country and dominated the UC Riverside Invitational with 30 points as 1,500-meter runner-up Nikki Hiltz (20:15.9) led Arkansas runners in fifth through 11th places over the 6k course.

Fifteenth-ranked Utah State followed its victory at the Sagebrush Invitational (No. 20 Utah) with a win at the BYU Autumn Classic (23-32 over No. 17 BYU). The Aggies were led by junior transfer Alyssa Snyder’s 18-second victory (16:28 over 3 miles). The Park City UT graduate returned to Utah from Montana State after finishing fourth in last year’s NCAA championship 10,000 meters.

This weekend’s Roy Griak Invitational will likely shake up the rankings with a large number of current and formerly ranked teams in the competition.

Big meets this weekend:

9/22 Providence and Georgetown at Battle at Beantown

9/23 Virginia hosts Virginia/Panorama Farms

9/23 San Francisco, BYU, Michigan State, Iowa State, Colorado State, and Abilene Christian, at host Minnesota for Roy Griak Invitational

Top 20 (last week’s ranking)

1. Colorado (1)

2. Stanford (2)

3. Michigan (3)

4. New Mexico (4)

5. Arkansas (7)

6. Oregon (5)

7. NC State (8)

8. Boise State (6)

9. Penn State (9)

10. Notre Dame (10)

11. Providence (11)

12. San Francisco (12)

13. Wisconsin (13)

14. Eastern Michigan (14)

15. Utah State (NR)

16. Washington (15)

17. BYU (20)

18. Furman (16)

19. Michigan State (17)

20. Utah (19)

Teams to Watch: Portland, Iowa State, Missouri, Villanova, Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Mississippi, Cal, Vanderbilt, Abilene Christian, Minnesota, Virginia, and Texas