BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

For Amanda and Katy Trotter, the years at Stanford University have gone by in about the time it takes them to complete a race.

It seems such a short time ago that the twins were the wide-eyed state champions from Red Bank Regional traveling across the country to attend Stanford and compete for one of the nation's most revered running programs.

In their first three years at the Palo Alto, Calif., university, they have managed to leave their mark at Stanford. This year, when they leave Little Silver for Stanford early next month, the twins will return to Stanford as two of the leaders of the defending NCAA cross country champions.

"It's been nice to be a part of the Stanford tradition," said Katy Trotter. "It just keeps getting better and building. To be a part of two cross country national championships is a great accomplishment. I'm very proud to run for Stanford and I'm looking forward to this year and maybe a third national championship."

Amanda Trotter has found the same pride in running for the Cardinals and becoming a part of their storied tradition.

"Stanford has such a great tradition behind it," she said. "Everyone takes pride in Stanford. We run hard and work hard in the classroom.

"I'm looking forward to my senior year," she added. "It's a little scary because you have to think about the future."

In the fall, though, part of that future will be a repeat at the NCAA championships. The Trotters know their role as leaders will be very important.

"It's a great honor for me to be one of the leaders, I can't believe it," said Amanda Trotter. "We both know what it will take [to win]. This team is very good."

Katy Trotter said the team's veterans have been complemented by a strong incoming freshman class, and believes that the Cardinals have the potential to do it again.

"We can definitely win it if everyone stays healthy," she said. "I'm looking forward to it. It's [the season] the great unknown. "

Katy Trotter added that cross country has become her favorite sport at Stanford.

"Cross country is more of a team effort," she said. "Everyone runs the same event. What I like is the team effort."

Amanda and Katy Trotter have already had a career filled with highlights, and they still have a year to go. Katy has been an eight-time All-American, and Amanda earned her first AA honor last winter.

One of the best memories for the sisters was last April at the Penn Relays when they were teammates on the Stanford 4x1,500-meter relay team that not only captured the Penn Relays title, but set an American Record, 17:18.63, in the process, teaming up with Lauren Centrowitz and Arianna Lambie.

They had won a Penn Relays crown in high school, leading RBR to the girl's Distance Medley Relay championship.

They may not get that chance at Penn this year because they are both contemplating red-shirting during one of the track seasons (indoor or outdoor) next year, giving them a fifth year at the school. With 2008 being the Olympic year, the extra year of running and training with the Cardinal could help them qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which will be held at the University of Oregon.

But that is not on the twins' minds as they head for California. Doing their best to steer Stanford toward an NCAA cross country title is.