Gonzaga University
NCAA West Regional Championships
Men's XC Clinches Automatic Bid to Nationals
11/11/2022 12:21:00 PM | Cross Country
Zags Take Program-Best Second at NCAA West Regionals
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. — Gonzaga Men's Cross Country punched its ticket to its third-consecutive NCAA Championships appearance with its best-ever finish at the NCAA West Regional Championships at Chambers Creek Regional Park Friday Morning, earning its first-ever automatic bid with second place in the team score and three All-West Region finishers.
The Zags knocked off No. 14 Washington for the second time this year and No. 18 Oregon for the first time in program history as well as No. 24 Portland and No. 25 California Baptist — all of which were ranked above GU going into the meet. They won't have to wait for an at-large berth in Saturday's selection show, having clinched a team berth to Stillwater, Okla. in next Saturday.
"Wow, — first time in Gonzaga history that we get an automatic berth to NCAA's," said GU Head Coach Pat Tyson. "Four other teams that were ranked higher than us battling for second. It's a tribute to Wil Smith, Yacine Guermali and Kyle Radosevich — who all made All-West — as well as James Mwaura coming off an injury contributing as the fourth man and Cullen McEachern who grinded it out to be our fifth. Very excited for this team."
Wil Smith's 4th-place finish with a time of 28:25.4 was the highest by a GU runner at Regionals, with Yacine Guermali (seventh, 28:28.7) making it two Zags in the Top 10. Kyle Radosevich (22nd, 28:56.3) also earned All-West honors, with James Mwaura (26th, 29:04.5), Cullen McEachern (33rd, 29:12.3), Riley Moore (59th, 29:47.9) and Bryce Cerkowniak (29:58.6) rounding out GU's lowest point total at Regionals in program history. Smith and Guermali's times were both personal bests, with Smith's finish ranking as the second-fastest 10K in program history.
"Great day to be a Zag — we completed our goal of getting an auto qualifier," said Guermali post-race. "Love the progress that this team has made. We'll be ready to go next week in Stillwater."
