Seven years ago, the Marquette women's cross country team had never run in the NCAA Championships. For the past six years, they have never stayed home during the meet.
Coach David Uhrich's 18th year as head coach was again an enormous success and memorable for all who were along for the ride. The Golden Eagles finished their season with a 29th place finish at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. Only 31 of over 300 Division I teams qualified for the meet.
The team's accomplishments this season and in the past few years have put Marquette on the radar as a force to be reckoned with in women's cross country.
"Going from never being a national qualifier to six straight appearances is pretty impressive," Uhrich said.
Seniors Terri Emond, Susie Emond, Jodi Jakubek, Amy Stephens and Leslie Lawton were all part of four NCAA Championship teams.
"Being a member of the cross country team the last four years has truly been the best experience. I could not have asked for a better team," Jakubek said.
Marquette started strongly in the first meet of the 2005 season with the top seven finishes at the Bradley Open.
A star was born in late September at the Roy Griak Invitational, when sophomore Cassie Peller started a familiar trend by stepping into the spotlight and finishing first for the Golden Eagles, who placed 7th overall. Peller finished first for the Golden Eagles at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational and the Big East Championships as well.
Peller's fourth-place finish overall at the Lakefront Invitational helped the Golden Eagles captured the title at the meet in preparation for Pre-Nationals. It was in this race that Uhrich had confirmed what he already knew: He was going to have depth throughout the season. This proved to be the team's identity.
Junior Michaela Courtney led the way for Marquette at Pre-Nationals, and did so four times during the course of the season. While Courtney and Peller took turns finishing first, they never had to wonder about a solid finish from the rest of the team.
The depth anchored the squad throughout the second half of the season. Jakubek had a consistent season before it was halted by an injury, and the Emond sisters rose to the occasion alongside Hinke, Sauer and junior Heidi Lindeman. If someone ever had an "off" race, someone filled the void.
"Jodi Jakubek was our two-time MVP in 2003 and 2004 and to lose her and still take third at the Big East Championships, and to make it to nationals without her was a testament to the character of the team and its depth," Uhrich said. "This team really is resilient, we can take some setbacks."
When the season started, Marquette faced the challenge of racing in the Big East conference, one of the nation's best. The third-place finish put to rest any doubts that the team could compete in their new conference.
"The highlight of the year for me was the Big East meet. I thought that was our best team race," Peller said.
The Big East consistently had three or four teams in the top 30 in the country, and Marquette was among them at different points of the season.
At the Great Lakes Regional in Indiana they again beat some of the top-ranked teams in the country, taking sixth out of 32 teams. That was the final push that earned the Golden Eagles their sixth consecutive NCAA Championship meet birth.
In one of the toughest conferences, in one of the toughest endurance sports, and amidst injury, the 2005 Marquette women's cross country team re-affirmed its place among the nation's best programs.