SAN MATEO, Calif. – The Portland Pilots Men's Cross Country team was picked to finish first in the 2023 WCC Preseason Cross Country Coaches Poll, the conference announced on Wednesday. This marks the first season since 2014 that the Pilot men were picked to finish first in the WCC Preseason Polls. 

 

The preseason poll, as well as the WCC preseason team were selected by a vote of the eight program head coaches in the WCC. Coaches cannot vote for their own team or student-athletes.

 

The WCC selected Jonas Gertsen, Bradley Peloquin and Matt Strangio to be members of the 2023 All-WCC Preseason Team. Gertsen did not compete in the WCC Championships in 2022, but finished 26th at the championships in 2021. During the 2023 outdoor track season, Gertsen ran the sixth fastest 5,000 meter time in Pilot history with a 13:46.36, as well as the 10th fastest 10,000 meter with 28:45.60. Peloquin led the Pilots at the WCC Championships in 2022 finishing 10th, earning himself All-WCC Honors. Peloquin followed up his cross country season by running the third fastest indoor 5,000 meter in school history, running 13:45.57. Strangio was the Pilot's second finisher at the WCC Championships in 2022, finishing 13th. During indoor and outdoor track, Strangio would PR several times in the 5,000 meter event. Indoors, he broke Woody Kincaid's school record of 13:44.34 by running 13:39.59. During outdoors, he would run the second fastest time in school history for the 5,000 meter event, running 13:30.16 to qualify for the NCAA Championships where he would ultimately place 22nd overall.

 

The Pilot men finished third at the 2022 WCC Championships before placing seventh at the NCAA West Regional Championships.

 

The WCC Championships are scheduled for Oct. 28, in Malibu, Calif. The Pilots will open their season this Friday, Sept. 1 at the Linfield Harrier Classic, starting at 10 A.M.

 

Posted below will be the full list of WCC Preseason results: 

 

2023 WCC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (first-place votes) points
Portland (5) 47
Gonzaga (3) 45
Santa Clara 37
LMU 31
San Francisco 22
Saint Mary's 21
Pepperdine 14
San Diego 7

 2023 WCC Men's Cross Country Preseason Team
Ed Buck – USF
Jonas Gersten – POR
Riley Moore - GON
Bradley Peliquin – POR
Kyle Radosevich - GON
Nicholas Russell - SCU
Wil Smith – GON
Matt Strangio – POR
Adam Trafecanty - LMU
Ian Twyman - SCU

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