There’s not a lot Florida State standout Susan Kuijken hasn’t accomplished during her four-year career.

Except for one thing – a cross country national title.

Oh, she’s come close, finishing third in 2007 and second last year by just seven seconds to three-time NCAA champ Sally Kipyego. So this season, for her, has been all about being at her best when it counted the most – at Monday’s NCAA finale in Terre Haute, Ind. She’s raced just twice this season, at the Pre-national meet  on the NCAA course (she finished second) and then at the ACC championships (she won), looking to be strong and fresh for the 6K race.
 
“I real really good,’’ she said.

She’s has to be to run down pre-race favorite, Colorado’s Jenny Barringer, who at one time seemed likely to sign with FSU out of high school and this season has raced into a new stratosphere. She beat Kuijken at the Pre-national meet by about 32 seconds, although Kuijken’s strategy was to stay with her teammates and not with Barringer.

“It’s going to be tough, of course,’’ Kuijken said of beating Barringer. “I just hope to stay with her and see who’s the strongest on the home stretch.’’

“Susan is so much better than last year and she needs to be,’’ FSU coach Karen Harvey said. “Her sword is as sharp as it can be … She has done everything right leading up to this race. That’s all you can ask for. It’s going to be so exciting and fun to watch her run to her potential.’’

Kuijken also has an eye on a team title after back-to-back third-place finishes and, if everyone is healthy and has a good day, that wouldn’t be a huge shocker. In addition to Kuijken, Pilar McShine and Pasca Cheruiyot are running well as are Jennifer Dunn, Jessica Parry and Amanda Wilson.

“This team is fitter and faster than the team last year,’’ Harvey said. “We’re ready.’’

The FSU men, back on this stage for the seventh straight year, haven’t been better than 17th (in 2004) in that time but sure look like a team capable of doing that despite its relative youth.

Junior Matt Leeder (89th in last year’s NCAA), senior Daniel Roberts (66th) and junior Ciaran O’Lionard (68th) all could be in the top 40 and earn all-America honors. Wes Rickman, the ACC freshman of the year, has been strong all year, while junior Justin Harbor looks to be back from knee surgery he had in late August and oft-injured sophomore Mike Fout has won a state title on this course.

“Of all the years we’ve had teams make it, the training of this group has been fantastic,’’ coach Bob Braman said. “I think we’re peaking right. … Top 20 is reasonable and, if we could be Top 15, it would be really special.’’

Versus is broadcasting the races live.