SAN MATEO, Calif.--- The Portland Pilots women's cross country team, who is currently receiving votes in the national poll, has been picked to finish second in in the 2020-21 West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, only behind no. 2 BYU. At last year's WCC Championships, the Portland women finished second to the Cougars.
 
The Cougars collected nine first-place votes and 81 points. BYU finished second at the 2019 NCAA Championships and has won the last two WCC titles, having finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships in three of the last four years.
 
The Pilots collected one first-place vote and 72 points to land in second place.
 
Rounding out the top five were Gonzaga (62 points), San Francisco (55) and Santa Clara (44). Spots 6-10 were claimed by Saint Mary's (38), Loyola Marymount (35), San Diego (31), Pacific (20) and Pepperdine (12).
 
The Pilots also landed two runners on the All-WCC Spring Preseason Team, juniors Anna Pataki and Stella Gillman. Pataki finished in 11^th place at the 2019 WCC Championships, and earned her first individual bid to the national meet following her 9^th place West Regional performance. At the 2019 national meet, Pataki matched the women's program's 10^th-best finish with her 57^th place time.
 
The 2020-21 WCC Championships are scheduled for Feb. 24 in Las Vegas.
 
2020-21 WCC Spring Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Votes)      Points
BYU (9)                                     81
Portland (1)                              72
Gonzaga                                   62
San Francisco                           55
Santa Clara                               44
Saint Mary's (CA)                      38
Loyola Marymount                    35
San Diego                                 31
Pacific                                       20
Pepperdine                               12
 
2020-21 All-WCC Preseason Spring Women's Cross Country Team
Name                                      Institution          Yr.
Anna Camp-Bennett                    BYU               Sr.
Aubrey Frentheway                     BYU                Jr.
Stella Gillman                          Portland           Jr.
Claire Manley                            Gonzaga          Sr.
Sara Musselman                         BYU               Sr.
Janie Nabholz                         Santa Clara        Sr.
Whittni Orton                               BYU               Sr.
Anna Pataki                             Portland          Jr.
Hannah Rasmussen                 San Diego        Sr.
Anna Tait                                San Francisco     Sr.