Huskies hope to repeat NCAA cross-country title

Question: How many times have Washington teams won back-to-back national titles?

Answer: In NCAA-recognized sports, just once: Women's crew won overall NCAA crowns in 1997 and '98. (For the record, men's crew won consecutive non-NCAA titles in the '40s, '30s and '20s; the women won a string of them in the '80s.)

That list could soon grow. The Washington women's cross-country team, 2008 NCAA champion, is a serious contender to repeat.

"One of our goals is getting to the national meet and doing everything we're capable of doing," said Greg Metcalf, last year's national coach of the year. "If we do that, we'll be very difficult to beat."

The Huskies, named last week the unanimous preseason No. 1 team in the coaches' poll, return five of their top seven finishers from nationals last November.

That group includes sophomores Christine Babcock and Kendra Schaaf, the nation's only freshmen to earn All-American status in 2008. Babcock, the Pac-10 newcomer of the year, placed seventh at the NCAA meet; Schaaf finished 12th.

Also back: Junior Mel Lawrence (25th at nationals), lone senior Katie Follett (26th) and junior Lauren Saylor (41st). Freshmen Allison Linnell and Lindsay Flanagan and junior Kenna Patrick (Jefferson High School), are among the runners competing for the two top-seven spots vacated by departed seniors.

The Huskies won their season-opener easily, taking the Sundodger Invitational Saturday at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Schaaf was the individual winner, setting a course record.

Next for Washington is the Notre Dame Invitational, Oct. 2 at South Bend, Ind.

Part of UW's success comes from Metcalf's efforts to make time for every athlete every day.

"Even if it's only, 'How are you doing?' " said Follett. "He brings lots of positive energy to the team, and that has everything to do with our success. It means a lot to have a coach who shows up at a hard workout with a huge smile on his face and believes in you 100 percent."

Lawrence, who this year emerged as one of college track's top steeplechase competitors, finishing third at the NCAA meet, concurs.

"He believes in us, probably more than even our families or teammates," she said. "He knows what each person needs individually and shows that he cares, that he knows you're not just number on a roster."

Follett: "He'll go over your goals with you at the start of season and tell you that if you thought your goal was getting X place at nationals, why not get 10 or 15 places better?" she said. "If you have a coach who believes you can do that, it's easy to plug into that energy."

Metcalf, in his eighth season, believes his task is to motivate minds as well as train bodies.

"My goal is to provide energy and attitude and instill confidence in our athletes," he said. "Part of my job is writing workouts, but the team is about attitude. I want each day to be exciting and fun for them."

It seems to work. Follett says a palpable team vibe runs through an ostensibly individual sport.

"During workouts a lot of us are within 15 or 20 seconds of each other, and we talk to each other and encourage each other, even if we're out of breath," she said. "I've never been on a team that so often runs in a close pack."

The Huskies swept the first six places at the Pac-10 meet last year, recording an eye-popping, first perfect score of 15. At the NCAA meet, they defeated the second-place Ducks by 52 points.

It's a feeling Follett would like to repeat in her senior year.

"We have a lot of really talented girls who are willing to lay it all on the line for each other every race," she said. "We have fun and we really get along, but we're really professional about our training.

"I know all the other girls are going to give 100 percent every time, so I know I'm going to do the same. Once you have that trust, you have something that's really special."