In 1980, Mary Washington College turned a corner on success as the MWC Blue Tide cross country team won the Virginia Division III and Region 2 titles. In 1981, with freshmen filling four of the top five slots, Mary Washington took another giant step toward cross country dominance. Anchored by returning 1980 and 1981 All Virginia and All Region 2 runner Terry Hudachek and paced by 1981 All Virginia and All Region 2 miler, Marlene Moreno, the squad added another Virginia and Region 2 title to the Blue Tide trophy case.

MWC capped the season with a 16th place finish at the national AIAW meet held in the high altitude at Idaho State University, becoming Mary Washington's first full team to travel to two consecutive national level tournaments. Through regular season competition, Mary Washington maintained a perfect 7-0 record versus comparable Division III competition. The Tide was perfect in another category as well. MWC finished the season with a 5-0 mark running on their home course. That home course is a hilly 5000 meters layout encircling Mary Washington's recently completed Battleground Complex.

The six acre complex includes ten lighted tennis courts, varsity soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse fields, golf driving range and practice and approach greens, intramural and multi-purpose areas, and the eight lane Rubaturf surface track. The course record is 19: 26, set in 1981. Marlene Moreno, a freshman from Silver Spring, Maryland, led the team all year long. She finished first for MWC in every meet in which she finished, captured the Virginia individual title, and was second in the five state region. Moreno, holder of Mary Washington's three mile record of 18:30, was chased through out the year by a number of runners.

Terry Hudachek, a junior, repeated her all state and regional honors with a strong season finish. Susan Smith, another freshman, ran in the number two position for much of the year before she was slowed by leg troubles. Smith placed first for Mary Washington in one event. Beth Dillow, still another first year runner, saved her only first of the year for the Tide until the season's final event. Dillow ran a 22:04 in the cold hilly Idaho air for 129th place in the national meet, good for MWC's first position.

Freshman Mary Taylor improved consistently over the course of the season, lowering her times by more than two minutes to nab All Virginia honors for her fourth place finish at the state meet. Julie Burley, a sophomore, ran her best race at the Region 2 contest. She was 14th overall, fourth for MWC, and with that performance, earned a trip to Idaho. Meg Bain rounded out the top seven runners in her freshman season. She was ninth in the state and 18th in Region 2. "We improved tremendously over both the course of the season and over last year's team," Coach Tom Davies said. "Each runner's times lowered significantly. We became a much deeper and much more talented team." Since Division III cross country was initiated in 1980, Mary Washington College is both Virginia's and AIAW Region 2's only champion.