MALIBU, Calif. -- The RV Pilot Women's cross country team defeated the No. 28 Gonzaga Bulldogs to win the 2023 WCC Cross Country Championships. A total of six Pilots earned All-WCC honors, tying the school record from 2007. Laura Pellicoro, Fleur Templier and Maebh Richardson all earned first-team honors, while Courtney Klatt, Sam Prusse and Janelle Avilez were awarded honorable mention honors.

 

The Pilot women would run a commanding and confident race from the front, claiming the WCC championship with a total of 40 points. Gonzaga would finish second with 46 points, and St. Mary's would secure third in 86 points. 

 

Pellicoro would finish second overall in a time of 20:52.7, leading the Pilots throughout the race and establishing a strong precedent for the team. Fleur Templier would ultimately finish third in a time of 21:05.3 after fighting off a close race with Gonzaga's Sadie Tuckwood. Templier would fight through much of the race with Tuckwood before eventually gapping her on the last split to secure third overall. Maebh Richardson would run a smart race, hovering between 10th and 12th before moving up in the last half of the race to finish ninth in 21:54.7. Courtney Klatt would finish 12th in 22:01.0 to lead a strong pack of Sam Prusse (14th, 22:02.0) and Janelle Avilez (15th, 22:02.2) to All-WCC honorable mentions. 

 

Other Pilots to finish were Mie Nielsen in 16th (22:13.3), Teresa Perez in 24th (22:37.1), Tiahna Woodger in 31st (23:07.3) and Stina Pettersson in 36th (23:21.4). 

 

The Pilots will be back in a couple of weeks at the NCAA West Regional Championships in Sacramento, Calif. on Friday, November 10th.

 

Women's Team Results—6K

1. Portland - 40 points 

2. Gonzaga - 46 points 

3. St. Mary's - 86 points 

4. San Francisco - 108 points 

5. Santa Clara - 109 points

6. Loyola Marymount - 172 points

7. Pepperdine - 204 points

8. San Diego - 212 points

9. Pacific - 277 points

 

Portland Individual Women

2. Laura Pellicoro*, 20:52.7

3. Fleur Templier*, 21:05.3

9. Maebh Richardson*, 21:54.7

12. Courtney Klatt*, 22:01.0

14. Sam Prusse*, 22:02.0

15. Janelle Avilez*, 22:02.2 

16. Mie Nielsen, 22:13.3 

24. Teresa Perez, 22:37.1

31. Tiahna Woodger, 23:07.3

36. Stina Pettersson, 23:21.4 

 

* Top 10 Individuals All-WCC First Team; 11-15 All-WCC Second Team