Program Outlook

The St. Thomas women’s distance runners have established a national reputation for excellence.

The UST cross-country teams have won four NCAA Division III team championships and one AIAW national crown. Only one other Division III women's CC program has won more. The Tommies also placed second nationally in 1996, were seventh in 1995, took 10th in 1998 and finished 15th in 1999 and 2005. The last two UST teams placed 18th and 25th at nationals.

Individually, St. Thomas women's CC and track runners have won 15 national championships, in events from 1,500 to 10,000 meters. Kelly Copps, a six-time Division III national champion on the track, was the 1994 national runner-up in cross-country in a field of 190 runners.

During an eight-year stretch from 1981-88, coach Joe Sweeney guided the women’s team to five national championships and three runner-up finishes. The Tommies have advanced to nationals as a team in 17 of the 25 years since joining Division III in 1982. They've claimed 13 top-seven team finishes. St. Thomas CC had three All-Americans in 1996 and has had 36 overall since joining Division III in 1982.

St. Thomas has won 15 of the 27 MIAC team titles in cross country since the event was first sponsored for women in 1981. The Tommies had the top two individual finishers at the conference meet in both 1995 and 1996; the first three finishers in 1997; the individual champion in both 1999 and 2000; and the runner-up in 2001 and 2007.

In all, Sweeney has guided Tommie cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams to 60 conference team titles out of a possible 78 in his 28-year era. No other active Division III coach has won 60 conference team titles in women's sports. The Tommie women had a rare sweep of conference team titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in each of the last two seasons.

St. Thomas annually boasts a team cumulative grade-point average in the 3.40-3.65 range. Junior Katie Theisen was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American and was a CC All-American in 2007 and also was named a Goldwater scholar. In 2005, aenior Brigid Power won an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship; was voted a CoSIDA Academic All-American; and was an NCAA runner-up in the 1,500 meters on the track.

St. Thomas faces a challenging schedule of competitions throughout the Midwest, running against top Division II and III teams. The Tommies also take a trip out of the area and have competed in Boston, Colorado, South Bend, Ind., and Pennsylvania in recent seasons.

The team has approximately 18-22 members. Junior-varsity runners compete alongside varsity runners in most meets.