How Will the Gopher Women Fare?

On Saturday, the Gophers cross country teams will face impressive competition at the Pre-NCAA meet at Indiana State. The meet's two women's races will feature 19 nationally-ranked teams, while the two men's races will feature 20. The Gophers Men and Women, ranked #30 and #8, respectively, will both be competing in the "White" races.

Saturday's races, held on the same course where the top teams will run the NCAA Division I Championships in November, will go a long way towards establishing a national pecking order for 2009.

This week we will focus on the Gopher women and specifically their depth at Pre-NCAAs. As befitting a top 10 team, the Gophers boast the requisite front-runner (Megan Duwell) as well as a strong chase pack. The Gophers placed 6 runners in the top 15 at the Griak Meet. So we want you to let us know how the Gopher women will fare on an even bigger stage this week:

Yes/No: Will the top 5 Gophers women finish among the top 60 in the White Race at Pre-NCAA's on Saturday?

The Gopher expect the following to make up their varsity at pre-NCAAs:

-- Heather Dorniden (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount): The middle distance superstar finished 81st at the 2008 Pre-NCAA Meet.

-- Megan Duwell (Sr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West): In 2008, Duwell finished 18th at this meet and ended the year as an All-American.

-- Amy Laskowske (Sr., Palatine, Ill./Palatine): The 2009 10000 Meter All-American finished 52nd at Pre-NCAA's in 2008.

-- Nikki Swenson (Jr., Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd): Swenson is a 2:07 800 meter runner and ran in the open race at Pre-NCAA's last year. Swenson was the #2 runner for the Gophers at the Griak meet.

-- Mallory Van Ness (Sr., Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View/Missouri): Van Ness finished 46th at the Pre-NCAA's in 2008.

-- Elizabeth Yetzer (Sr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North): The 4:18 1500 meter runner has finished as high as 24th at the Pre-NCAA meet (2007).

-- Kayla Wagner (Fr., Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville): The first-year star finished 13th at the Griak Meet.

2008 Pre-NCAA results are HERE.

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My answer: Yes

Last week’s Yes/No question was: Will Andrew Carlson run faster than 1:03:30 at the World Half Marathon Championships on Sunday? The correct answer was “yes” as Carlson ran 1:02:50 for 20th place. Fourteen contestants answered correctly and Chad Bjugan moved into a tie for second place in the 2009 Yes/No standings.

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