SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For the fourth straight year, Gonzaga men's cross country will send their team to the NCAA Cross Country Championships. After a second-place finish (98 team points) at the NCAA West Regional Championships on Friday, the Zags have earned their second-consecutive automatic-qualifying bid after knocking off three ranked teams including fourth-ranked Cal Baptist.
 
Wil Smith led the way for the Zags with a sixth place individual finish, good for his second-straight All-West honor. After a fourth place finish at last year's West Regional, Smith stamped his place into the Top Ten once again, finishing in 29:14.1.
 
Drew Kolodge (12th, 29:25.7) and Bryce Cerkowniak (15th, 29:34.0) earned crucial Top 15 placements to aid in Gonzaga's point scoring. Kolodge earned All-West recognition in his first season with the Zags, while Cerkowniak jumped 55 spots from last year's finish to earn his first nod.
 
Michael Maiorano (29:51.0) placed 28th, just missing GU's fourth All-West honor. In a race where every point mattered, Maiorano jumped up five spots in the final half-mile. Cooper Laird was next at 37th with a time of 30:02.7. Logan Law cracked the Top 50 with a 48th-place, 30:17.1 finish, and Paul Talens finished 59th (30:31.4) to round out Gonzaga's seven participants.
 
The Stanford men won their third straight West Regional team title, earning 73 points in Friday's race. Gonzaga's 98 points is six shy of the program-lowest, a mark they hit last year in University Place, Wash. The Zags finished ahead of No. 4 Cal Baptist, No. 22 Washington, No. 26 Oregon, and RV Boise State.
 
Stanford's Ky Robinson took home the individual title, while the Cardinal men place three runners in the Top Ten.
 
UP NEXT
For the second straight season, the Zags will get to relax on Selection Saturday knowing they are in the NCAA Championships next weekend. The event kicks off Saturday Nov. 18 in Charlottesville, Va. at Panorama Farms.
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FULL RESULTS

Men's 10K
6	Wil Smith	29:14.1
12	Drew Kolodge	29:25.7
15	Bryce Cerkowniak	29:34.0
28	Michael Maiorano	29:51.2
37	Cooper Laird	30:02.7
48	Logan Law	30:17.1
59	Paul Talens	30:31.4