Pilots Top WCC Preseason Cross Country Polls

Pilots Top WCC Preseason Cross Country Polls
8/6/2009 10:46:17 AM


SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- The University of Portland men’s and women’s cross country teams were both picked to repeat as West Coast Conference champions, as chosen by the league coaches in the annual preseason poll. Both teams received the maximum 49 points in their respective polls, getting the first place nod from all seven other coaches in the league.

The Pilots have won the men’s race 30 consecutive years, the longest active streak for any cross country program in the country. Last season, Portland tied its program high with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships and returns three runners from that team in Alfred Kipchumba, who finished 18th in that race, and Tommy Betterbed, who both made the preseason all-conference team, as well as Matt Frerker. Other returners who made the preseason all-conference team for coach Rob Conner are Andy Edick and Colin Harris.

The Portland women have been just as dominant as the men, winning 19 of the 24 conference titles. Head coach Ian Solof returns some of the top finishers in last year’s WCC Championships in Dana Morgan (2nd) and Natalie Hemphill (5th), who were joined by Lyndy Davis on the preseason all-conference team.

Loyola Marymount was tied for second with San Francisco (40 points) on the men’s side and finished second on the women’s (42 points). The Lion men placed three on the preseason all-conference team in Phillip Benavides, Brian McDonald, and Connor Pastoor, who all ran on the team that lost to Portland by 10 points in the WCC Championships, making it the closest race in conference history. The Don men will look to leadership from Ganbileg Bor, the 2008 WCC Freshman of the Year and runner up at the conference championships. On the women’s side, Loyola Marymount returns last year’s conference champion, Tara Erdmann, and Brieanna Delaney, who finished eighth at the conference championships, who both made the preseason all-conference team.


The Bronco men finished fourth in the poll with 31 points, while the San Francisco and Santa Clara women tied for third with 37 points each. The Santa Clara men and women both return 2008 All-WCC members Robbie Reid and Stephanie Wilson, both named to the preseason all-conference team. The Dons return Laurel Kleiber, who gained All-WCC honorable mention last year and was named to the preseason all-conference team.

On the men’s side Gonzaga took fifth with 23 points, followed by Pepperdine in sixth with 20, while San Diego (11 points) edged out Saint Mary’s (10) to round out the poll. On the women’s side, Pepperdine (20 points), led by preseason all-conference team member Chelsea Wishard, who finished 3rd at last year’s championships, just beat out Gonzaga, which had 19. San Diego, which returns preseason all-conference member Liz Ramos, finished in seventh with 18 points, while Saint Mary’s closed out the poll with seven points.

This year’s WCC Cross Country Championships will once again be held at the Crystal Springs Cross Country Course in Belmont, Calif. on October 31, 2009.

WCC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll

1. Portland – 49 (7)

2. Loyola Marymount – 40

3. San Francisco – 40 (1)
4. Santa Clara – 31
5. Gonzaga – 23
6. Pepperdine 20
7. San Diego – 11

8. Saint Mary’s – 10

Men’s Preseason All-Conference Team
Phillip Benavides, Loyola Marymount
Tommy Betterbed, Portland
Ganbileg Bor, San Francisco
Andy Edick, Portland
Alex Harkins, Santa Clara
Colin Harris, Portland
Alfred Kipchumba, Portland
Brian McDonald, Loyola Marymount
Conner Pastoor, Loyola Marymount
Robbie Reid, Santa Clara

WCC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll

1. Portland – 49 (7)

2. Loyola Marymount – 42 (1)

3. San Francisco - 37

4. Santa Clara – 37
5. Pepperdine – 20
6. Gonzaga – 19
7. San Diego – 18
8. Saint Mary’s – 7

Women’s Preseason All-Conference Team
Lyndy Davis, Portland
Brieanna Delaney, Loyola Marymount
Tara Erdmann, Loyola Marymount
Natalie Hemphill, Portland
Laurel Kleiber, San Francisco
Lauren Lodge, Pepperdine
Dana Morgan, Portland
Liz Ramos, San Diego
Stephanie Wilson, Santa Clara
Chelsea Wishard, Pepperdine

courtesy Portland Pilots