University of Washington cross country media day (part II)...

On Tuesday, the University of Washington hosted media day featuring head cross country and track coach Greg Metcalf, along with juniors Christine Babcock and Max O'Donoghue-McDonald (left/photo by Paul Merca), who are expected to be among the leaders of the team.

After finishing seventh at the NCAA cross country championships in 2008 and helping lead the Huskies to their first national title that season, Babcock, an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 1500 as a high schooler, finished 34th at last year's meet, and was the fourth finisher on the squad that finished third in Terre Haute.

O'Donoghue-McDonald, a product of Seattle Prep HS, was the Huskies' number five finisher at last year's NCAA cross country championships, helping the Dawgs to an 18th place team finish.

In part two, Babcock and O'Donoghue-McDonald talk about what they learned as underclassmen from graduates Katie Follett and Jake Schmitt, along with some thoughts on the upcoming season, and a reflection by Babcock on the 2009 NCAA championship meet, in which the Huskies finished third.



The Huskies open the season on Friday September 3rd with a dual meet against Washington State University in Ephrata. Their home opener is September 18th when they host the Sundodger Invitational at Lincoln Park in West Seattle, and host the Pacific-10 cross country championships on October 30th at Jefferson Park Golf Course in Seattle.