For the past 27 years as BYU’s women’s cross country coach, Patrick Shane has worked to establish his program to elite status in the NCAA. With 25 conference championships, 16 NCAA District VII championships, 21 top-ten finishes and four NCAA National Championships, Coach Shane and his runners have done just that. Only twice in his tenure has Shane not taken his team to the national championship meet.

The women’s team consistently finishes ranked at or near the top in the national rankings. The Cougars have entered the NCAA Cross Country Championships several times as the No. 1 ranked team. Last season Cecily Lemmon-Lew earned an All-American honor by placing tenth at the national meet.

Shane’s formula for success can be found within the team. Each individual athlete understands and is committed to putting in the time and effort it takes to be the best. Shane’s ability to structure his teams’ training allows the runners to peak  at the right time is also a key to the teams success. The previous ten seasons have known 20 BYU All-Americans. In 2001, the Cougars dominated the field by capturing the title with one of the biggest margins of victory in the history of the NCAA Championships, defeating second-place N.C. State by 86 points.

1997 NCAA FINAL RESULTS

Date: November 24
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Teams: 22
Distance: 5K

1. Brigham Young: 5, 13, 22, 27, 33 = 100 points
2. Stanford: 2, 14, 15, 27, 78 = 125 points
3. Colorado: 12, 37, 40, 41, 48 = 178 points

BYU Scorers 
5. Courtney Pugmire* 16:58
13. Maggie Chan* 17:04  
22. Elizabeth Jackson* 17:19
27. Tara Haynes 17:22
33. Emily Nay 17:31
*Awarded All-American
Coach Patrick Shane named NCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year

1999 NCAA FINAL RESULTS

Date: November 22
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Teams: 31
Distance: 5K

1. Brigham Young: 8, 13, 14, 17, 20 = 72points
2. Arkansas: 2, 3, 15, 27, 78 = 125 points
3. Stanford: 4, 5, 11, 33, 74 = 127 points 

BYU Scorers
11. Elizabeth Jackson* 16:59
16. Kara Ormond* 17:11
17. Tara Rohatinsky* 17:14
23. Sharolyn Shields* 17:16
26. Laura Heiner* 17:17
*Awarded All-American
Coach Patrick Shane named NCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year

2001 NCAA FINAL RESULTS

Date: November 19
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Teams: 31
Distance: 6K

1. Brigham Young: 5, 7, 9, 20, 21 = 62
2. N.C. State: 4, 13, 18, 41, 72 = 148
3. Georgetown: 14, 30, 35, 37, 64 = 180

BYU Scorers
5. Michaela Mannova* 20:42
7. Jessie Kindschi* 20:49
9. Tara Northcutt* 20:55
23. Lindsey Thomsen* 21:11
24. Sarah Taylor* 21:12 
*Awarded All-American

2002 NCAA FINAL RESULTS

Date: November 25
Location: Indiana State University
Teams: 31
Distance: 6K

1. Brigham Young: 4, 6, 15, 28, 32 = 85
2. Stanford: 2, 3, 9, 40, 59 = 113
3. Notre Dame: 5, 14, 37, 56, 58 = 170

BYU Scorers
4. Michaela Mannova* 19:49.5
6. Kassi Anderson* 19:56.1
15. Katie Martin* 20:15.2
28. Breanne Sandberg* 20:36.3
32. Jamie Cottle 20:45.1