Here's LetsRun's preview of the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Season, released today. They have the Wolfpack ranked #5 -- and after they conducted an interview with Coach Henes about a week ago and learning that Leah Stephens is unlikely to run this fall. If we had Stephens, we're likely either 2 or 3 in their ranking IMO. Henes says Brooke Rauber will not race early in the season, but expects her to race in the championship portion of this season.
https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/09/2024-ncaa-xc-previewing-the-womens-top-10-from-5-notre-dame-to-1-nau/
https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/09/2024-ncaa-xc-previewing-the-womens-top-10-from-5-notre-dame-to-1-nau/
Quote:
5) NC State
2023 finish: 1st *Returners from NCAAs: 3/7 (lose #1, #2, #3) *Coach: Laurie Henes
This year's NC State team will look different to the one that has ruled over the NCAA the last three years. The Wolfpack's top three finishers from last year's NCAA team Katelyn Tuohy, Amaris Tyynismaa, and Sam Bush are all gone. So is Kelsey Chmiel, a three-time top-10 finisher at NCAAs. And Leah Stephens, who was 43rd last year as a true freshman, has been injured since the spring. Coach Laurie Henes said she does not want to rush the 19-year-old Stephens back before she is ready.
"She was training and had a bit of a setback," Henes said. "…I want to make sure she doesn't get into a cycle of that. So my guess is that we would not run [Leah] this fall. I just want to make sure she can have a long career."
If you're counting, that means the Wolfpack's five best runners from 2023 may not run a step for them this fall. And yet, this could still be a podium team. NC State is young, but there is a lot of talent on the roster. Grace Hartman (63rd NCAA XC, 15:28/32:28 pbs), Hannah Gapes (73rd, 15:58), and Gionna Quarzo (102nd, 15:51) all return from last year's title team. Brooke Rauber (90th at '22 NCAA XC) will not race early but Henes expects her to be ready for the championship portion of the season. And the Wolfpack bring in Fiona Smith (15:50/32:57), who was the NCAA DIII champion last year for St. Benedict.
NC State also has a bunch of first- or second-year runners with limited NCAA experience but impressive high school accomplishments:Henes said she expects Napoleon, Jolena Quarzo, and fellow redshirt freshman Kate Putman to be factors this year. When we spoke last week, Henes said she had yet to decide whether Shea and Michalak will redshirt this fall (though Shea raced in an NC State uniform at last week's adidas XC Challenge where she was 26th) but has been impressed by what she has seen from them so far.
- Angelina Napoleon (RS freshman): Won Gatorade national track & field athlete of the year in 2023 after breaking high school record in 2k steeplechase (6:18). NCAA steeple qualifier as true freshman (9:54).
- Jolena Quarzo (RS freshman): Younger sister of Gionna was 3rd at '24 US U20 XC champs.
- Ellie Shea (true freshman): Ran 4:40/9:02/15:46 for mile/3k/5k in high school and twice finished top-15 in World XC U20 race.
- Bethany Michalak (true freshman): 3rd at '22 NXN, 2nd at '23 NXN.
"We'll have people that are a lot better than people might expect," Henes said. "Some of the development we've had has been really good."
"Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." - John 15:19
