Women's XC Takes Seventh at NCAA West Regionals
11/11/2022 10:49:00 AM | Cross Country
Garcia and Machu first All-Region Zag duo since 2015
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. — Led by a pair of All-West Region finishes from Kristen Garcia and Rosina Machu, Gonzaga Women's Cross Country edged out all seven of their WCC opponents in the team score en route to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA West Regional Friday morning at Chambers Creek Regional Park.
Finishing seventh out of 38 teams, the Bulldogs outran both Portland and San Francisco — WCC teams that beat them in the team standings two weeks prior.
"The women had a great day today," said GU Head Coach Jake Stewart. "The team went in to the race with the goal of being in the top ten, and they executed incredibly well. They raced immense composure against some of the best teams in the country and came away with a finish that we're excited about and proud of."
Garcia's 19:44.1 finish for 17th place and Machu's 19:49.7 time in 22nd was the first time two Zag women's runners both cracked the Top 25 to get All-West honors at an NCAA Regional since 2015, when GU finished sixth and secured an at-large team bid to nationals. Caramia Mestler made it three Zags in the Top 50 with her 20:06.9 44th-place finish, followed by Alicia Anderson (68th, 20:33.1), Brittney Hansen (79th, 20:41.3) , Makenna Edwards (106th, 20:59.5) and Alyssa Bienfang (115th, 21:09.5).
"Kristen and Rosina worked well together up front and Caramia had her best day of the fall," said Stewart. "Overall, a good day for the program."
