Gonzaga Men's XC No. 16, Women No. 23 in USTFCCCA Preseason Poll
8/31/2022 11:53:00 AM | Cross Country
Highest preseason ranking for either team
SPOKANE, Wash. — For the first time in program history, Gonzaga men's and women's cross country will both be beginning the season ranked in the Top 25 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) poll.
GU's men's squad came in at No. 16 and the Zag women were ranked No. 23 in their respective polls, making GU one of just 17 schools in D-I with both teams ranked. It's also the highest either team has been ranked to start the season. The programs were ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the USTCCCA's West Region rankings released on Tuesday.
The poll is conducted by counting votes from 11 member coaches – one from each of the division's nine regions (who also do the regional rankings) – as well as two members from the NCAA Cross Country Executive Committee.
The nod is a historic one for the Bulldogs, representing a hefty carryover from a momentous 2021 that saw both programs assert themselves on the national stage on multiple occasions.
The GU women placed second as a team at the West Coast Conference Championships and fourth at NCAA West Regionals last fall, but were one of the first teams out for an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships. Head Coach Jake Stewart's squad reached a program-best of No. 3 in the West that fall after the Zags' strong showing at a stacked Nuttycombe (21st overall) and at WCC's.
Along with three-time nationals competitor Kristen Garcia, GU returns five of its top seven from 2021 and adds six freshmen and two transfers, including another runner with nationals experience in Caramia Mestler (Oregon). In the spring, Garcia (10K) and fellow returner Alicia Anderson (5K, 1500m) both qualified for NCAA Regionals and reached the semifinals for their events.
The Zag men are coming off their second-straight NCAA Championships appearance as a team after making it for the first time under Pat Tyson in spring of 2021, and return plenty of experience as well.
Led by 2021 All-American James Mwaura, the program record holder in both the 8K and 10K, GU brings back five runners who hold one of the 10 fastest times in program history in both distances and six of their top seven from nationals, including 2021 All-West Region finishers Wil Smith and Cullen McEachern.
Both teams are set to kick off their fall season Thursday at Clash of the Inland Northwest in Cheney, which the Bulldogs have swept twice in a row. The men's race is set for 9 a.m. with the women's set for 9:45 a.m. Check GoZags.com for live results and follow @ZagRunning on Twitter and IG for more.
