Cross Country Season Begins

SAN FRANCISCO – Stanford makes its much-anticipated season cross -country debut on Saturday when the Cardinal competes at the USF Invitational at Golden Gate Park.

The meet involves mostly Bay Area schools, and serves the purpose of a low-pressure opener before the team leaves for its high-altitude training camp at Mammoth Mountain, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada.

The anticipation comes from the talent that arrives as freshmen, redshirt freshmen, and with one All-America graduate transfer. Together, they are expected to help both programs become national contenders.

Stanford will have two chances to showcase its talent at home this season, at the Stanford Invitational and the NCAA West Regionals. The NCAA Championships are in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 22.

Here are the details on Saturday’s season opener:

What: USF Invitational
Where: Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
When: Women  (5K, 9:30 a.m.); Men (8K, 10:15 a.m.)
Results: Click here

Stanford’s USF Invite lineup:

Men
Michael Atchoo , 5th sr.: NCAA outdoor 1,500 finalist … All-West Region XC.
Marco Bertolotti, 5th sr.: Led off NCAA indoor champion distance medley relay.
Tom Coyle, so.: Making cross country debut after redshirt year.
Patrick Gibson,  so.: Washington 2A XC champ makes collegiate XC debut.
Jack Keelan, so: Making collegiate XC debut … second in 2014 U.S. Jr. XC championships.
Joe Rosa, sr.: Stanford’s No. 1 in 2013 returns after injury redshirt year.
Garrett Sweatt, jr.: Stanford’s No. 6 at 2014 NCAAs.
Adam Thorne, jr.: Running XC for first time since 2009.
Sam Wharton, so.: 2012 Nike Cross Nationals HS champ makes collegiate debut.

Women
Cami Chapus, jr.: Stanford’s No. 3 at 2014 NCAA Championships.
Sophie Chase, so.: Stanford’s No. 7 at 2014 Pac-12 Championships.
Emma Fisher, so.: Makes collegiate XC debut after redshirt season.
Vanessa Fraser, so.: With 16:22.64 5K best, advanced to NCAA West Prelims.
Molly McNamara, sr.:  Stanford’s No. 7 at 2013 NCAA Championships.
Rebecca Mehra, jr.: 2nd team outdoor T&F All-America was Card No. 3 at Pac-12s.

USTFCCA Rankings:
Men: No. 5 (No.  2 by Flotrack.org)
Women: No. 4 (No. 7 by Flotrack.org)

High-Altitude Training Camp: On Sunday, Stanford heads to Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (elevation, 7,880 feet) on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range for a three-week training camp.

The entire team will be there until Sept. 14, when the freshmen return. The rest of the team returns Sept. 19. The fall quarter begins Sept. 22.

Quick Facts:

Men
NCAA Top Seven Returning/Lost: 5/2
NCAA Men’s Titles: 4 (1996, 1997, 2002, 2003)
NCAA West Regional Titles: 14 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Conference Titles: 12 (1985, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010)

Women
NCAA Top Seven Returning/Lost: 6/1
NCAA Titles: 4 (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
NCAA West Regional Titles: 14 (1982, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Conference Titles: 20 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010)