SAN MATEO, Calif. – The Portland Pilots Women's Cross Country team were selected to place third in the 2022 WCC Preseason Cross Country Coaches Poll, the conference announced on Wednesday. The Pilots were selected to place behind No.7 BYU and No.23 Gonzaga.
The WCC also nominated Laura Pellicoro and Emma Jenkins as 2022 All-Conference WCC nominees in the preseason polls. Pellicoro finished 11
th at the 2021 WCC Championships, while Jenkins finished 19
th. Pellicoro was also named 2021 WCC Freshman of the Year, and was the Pilot's second highest finisher in the NCAA West Regional Championships (16
th). Jenkins qualified for NCAA West Regional Championships last track season, competing in the 1500m.
Both the preseason poll and the preseason WCC team were selected by the 10 WCC head coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
No.7 BYU was the top choice to finish first in the conference, receiving 81 total points and nine first place votes. This was their fifth consecutive first place ranking in the WCC preseason polls. No.23 Gonzaga was chosen second with 71 points, receiving no first-place votes.
The Portland Pilots were selected third, receiving 63 total points and a single first place vote. The Pilots are returning five of their top-seven runners from last year, while also welcoming in additional young talent. The 2021 women Pilots finished fifth at the NCAA West Regional Championships, as well as finishing third at the WCC Championships.
The WCC Championships are scheduled for Oct. 28, in Portland, Ore. The Pilots will open their season this Friday, Sept. 2 at the Vikings Rust Buster, starting at 2:30 P.M.
2022 WCC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
Team – points (first-place votes)
1. BYU - 81 (9)
2. Gonzaga - 71
3. Portland – 63 (1)
4. San Francisco - 60
5. Santa Clara - 50
6. Saint Mary's - 39
7. LMU - 29
8. Pepperdine - 23
9. San Diego - 23
10. Pacific - 11
2022 WCC Women's Cross Country Preseason Team
Alicia Anderson, Gonzaga
Aubrey Frentheway, BYU
Kristen Garcia, Gonzaga
Lexy Halladay, BYU
Emma Jenkins, Portland
Eve Jensen, San Francisco
McKenna Lee, BYU
Laura Pellicoro, Portland
Ruby Smee, San Francisco
Rayna Stanziano, Saint Mary's
