Trotters have become leaders of Stanford XC team

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

These are new times for the Trotter twins, Amanda and Katy.Now veteran upperclassmen, they have assumed the role of leaders on the powerhouse Stanford University’s women’s cross country team.

“When we arrived here our freshman year there were no seniors on the team,” said Katy, who with sister Amanda, won state championships and national titles at Red Bank Regional High School. “Now we’re in a leadership role. We’re looking forward to the change, the challenge.”

Their goal is to keep the program where it was when they arrived two short years ago, on top.

“Our goal this season is definitely to be very competitive at the nationals,” said Amanda. “Individually, I want to stay strong throughout the entire season. I want to improve my placing from last season and be more competitive, physically and mentally.”

Katy Trotter expressed similar goals for the 2005 season.

“We need to remain cohesive as a team,” she said. “Individually, everyone wants to improve. I want to be an All-American.”

Even without any seniors on the team, Stanford is expected to contend for the national championship. The Cardinals were ranked No. 5 by Track and Field News in its preseason edition. Such is the state of life on “the farm,” as Stanford is referred to because of its distance-running dominance, that there is no such thing as rebuilding.

The Trotters helped Stanford win the 2003 NCAA cross country championship their freshman year, and were the team’s fourth and fifth runners at last year’s NCAAs, where Stanford was fifth. Both were All-Pac 10 as the Cardinal again won the conference and NCAA West Regional titles. They would like to win another national title before they leave.

That possibility seems far more probable following Saturday’s Pre-NCAA meet held at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind., site of the NCAA championships next month. Stanford’s women scored a big victory, easily handling Notre Dame, 86-147. Thirty-five teams participated in the event, and among those, 12 were ranked in the top 25.

Katy Trotter was Stanford’s No. 3 runner, finishing 19th (20:41.0) and Amanda was the sixth runner, placing 47th (21:19.7). The race was over 6,000 meters.

The Trotters started their seasons on a very promising note last month at the 33rd Stanford Invitational held on the Stanford Golf Course. Amanda won the short course 4,000 meter race in 14:03, while Katy was second in the 6K (21:19). The Cardinal easily won the team championship.

At the Keating Invitational, the Cardinal women swept to victory again in Orono, Maine. Katy Trotter finished fifth in the 17:01.50 in the 5K race, while Amanda was seventh in 17:21.30. They were Stanford’s third and fourth runners.

Stanford beat national power Boston College, 25-42.

Although just juniors, the Trotters have already produced a career full of highlights at Stanford, starting with the 2003 cross country national championship.

Katy, a history major, has earned All-American honors in both cross country and track. As a freshman she set the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:07.55). She has been a standout in the 1,500, the 5,000 and the steeplechase.

Amanda, who is majoring in biology, has provided the Cardinal with versatility on the track. Her range has been from 800 meters up to the 5,000.

In April, the twins returned to the site of one of their greatest scholastic triumphs, the Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2003, as seniors at RBR, the Trotters helped the Bucs win the High School Distance Medley Relay championship. Amanda ran the opening 1,200 meter leg and Katy ran the anchor 1,600.

This past April they were back in Philadelphia winning the Collegiate 4x1,500-meter relay race with Stanford.

Throughout their careers, the Trotters have been successful at balancing being sisters, friends and competitors. They have channeled it to their benefit most of the time.

“In terms of running, we try to keep each other in check, as normal as possible,” said Katy. “If one wants to go on an extra run, the other will ask why. Our competitive nature is good and bad at times. The running competition can help and hurt our relationship.”

Amanda said their competitive nature will continue, as they assume the added role of being team leaders.

“We will continue to push each other,” said Amanda. “Now we’re in a leadership role. We balance each other out: I’m the more vocal, emotional one; Katy sets the example.”

The early results indicate that the Trotters will be as successful as leaders as they are as competitors.