The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named Washington University cross-country head coach Jeff Stiles the 2011 Division III Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year last week.

With the regular season successes of the Washington University volleyball, cross country and men’s and women’s soccer teams, a postseason berth was essentially a foregone conclusion for all four teams.

Led by individual champions Michael Burnstein and Erica Jackey, the men’s and women’s cross-country teams defended their UAA championship titles Saturday in Chicago. On a sunny day with temperatures in the high 40s, Burnstein claimed his second straight first-place finish in the men’s 8K race, with a time of 25:29.80.

Freshman Lucy Cheadle broke into the collegiate cross-country scene quickly, matching senior star Liz Phillips stride-for-stride in the season’s first meet, missing an individual title by a mere 0.3 seconds. That was on Sept. 3 at the Washington University Big River Running Early Bird Meet. Fast forward to Cheadle’s second race, Oct.

Midway through the fall season, Washington University has seen its varsity teams prosper. The Bears are collectively off to one of the best starts in the school’s history, with six of seven fall teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. Student Life’s sports section took a closer look at the numbers behind Wash. U.’s strong showing in the fall of 2011.

In their first major meet of the season, the Washington University men’s and women’s cross country teams edged several Division I and II competitors.

In their first major meet of the season, the men’s and women’s cross country teams edged several Division I and II competitors. The fourth-ranked men’s team finished 14th out of 29 at the Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday, Oct. 1, while the second-ranked women’s team took 13th out of 30.

The Washington University men’s and women’s cross country teams’ second and first place finishes at last Saturday’s Early Bird meet marked the beginning of a new season. “It went great,” head coach Jeff Stiles said of the meet. “It may be the best opening meet, if you take into account both sides, that we’ve potentially ever had.”

We couldn’t ignore Michael Burnstein’s staggering accomplishments during his career at Wash. U. In just two years, since his transfer here in 2009, Burnstein has established himself—not only as one of the best male runners in University history, but also as one of the best runners in the nation.

The Washington University women’s cross country team finished second overall at the NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday, Nov. 20, while the men’s team came in ninth place. “Going into nationals, a team can have a lot of potential, and it’s kind of just like a coin toss whether you show all of it or none of it.