MXC at Gans Creek Classic
Event: Men's Gold Invitational 8K Race
Host: University of Missouri
Date: Friday, Sept. 26, 2025
Time: 7:45 AM (PST)
Location: Gans Creek Cross Country Course - Columbia, Mo.
Live Video: SEC Network+
Live Results: PortlandPilots.com

WXC at Mike Johnson Classic
Event: 6,000 Meters College
Host: Western Oregon University
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025
Time: 11 AM (PST)
Location: Ash Creek Preserve - Monmouth, Ore.
Live Results: PortlandPilots.com

THIS WEEK
• Portland men's cross country heads to Columbia, Mo., for the Gans Creek Classic hosted by the University of Missouri on Friday, Sept. 26. The Pilots compete in the Men's Gold Invitational 8K race at 7:45 a.m. (PST) at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course. Fans can watch live on SEC Network+ with live results at PortlandPilots.com.
• The Pilots men's team will be represented by eight athletes: Jonas Price, Cameron Stein, KG Monyebodi, Guiliano Scasso, Nolan Hosbein, Aaron Rovnak, Eliason Kabasenche, and Trey Gannon.
• The Pilot women take on in-state competition at the Mike Johnson Classic on Saturday, Sept. 27. Portland races the 6,000-meter college event at 11 a.m. (PST) at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Ore. Live results will be available on PortlandPilots.com.
• The Pilots women's team will feature 11 competitors: Abigail Kurgat, Berlin Herrera, Clare Herring, Danica Allen, Giana Atkinson, Izzy Lochtefeld, Kate Kabenina, Lindsey Kaines, Madison Griffith, Megan Crum and Selena Bangerter.


LAST WEEK
• Portland men totaled 41 points to finish second at the Gator Cross meet on Friday, just behind Western Washington's winning score of 35. The Pilots were led by Jacob Hupke, who won the race in 17:59.7, a personal best. Four of Portland's five scorers set personal bests, with Carson Helmer placing seventh in 18:11.3, Estanis Ruiz eighth in 18:12.2, and Collin Penuel 11th in 18:23.9. Cohen Williams rounded out the scoring group in 14th at 18:36.3.
• Portland Pilots Women's Cross Country earned their first win of the season on Friday, taking first in the Ash Creek Festival in Monmouth, Oregon. Selena Bangerter was the top runner on the day for Portland, finishing the 5K in 17:51.3 to take third in the contest. Megan Crum and Lindsey Kaines followed in eighth and ninth respectively to round out the top 10 finishers, with Crum running the race in 18:22.0 and Kaines in 18:28.7. Izzy Lochtefeld (11th, 18:28.7) and Danica Allen (12th, 18:53.8) rounded out the scoring runners for Portland.


THIS SEASON
• The Pilots women were picked to finish third in the annual WCC Preseason Coaches Poll ahead of the 2025 season with Maebh Richardson making the All-WCC Preseason Team.
• The Pilots men has been selected to finish first in the 2025 WCC Preseason Coaches Poll. This marks the third year in a row that the Pilots have been chosen to finish first in the WCC Preseason Polls. KG Monyebodi, Jonas Price, and Cameron Stein named to the 2025 All-WCC Preseason Team.
• Portland's women added 17 incoming freshmen to the roster while Pilot men welcomed one freshman to the Bluff.
• Pilot runner Collin Penuel has been selected as the West Coast Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week, announced by the Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 2^nd.
• The Portland Pilots men's cross country team opened their 2025 season with a second-place finish at the Lewis & Clark XC Opener on Friday morning at Milo McIver State Park. The Pilots scored 49 points as a team, placing behind Boise State (17) and ahead of Portland State (86). Portland's top finisher, Collin Penuel, claimed fourth overall with a personal-best time of 15:12.55 in the 5K. He was followed by Matthew Cordova in ninth (15:35.53 PR) and Hugh Kent in 10th (15:40.20). Andrew Gannon (12th, 15:47.49 PR) and Xander Penaflor (14th, 15:49.1) rounded out the Pilots' scoring five.
• The Portland Pilots women's cross country squad totaled 136 points on the day to open the 2025 season with a fourth-place team finish at the Lewis & Clark XC Opener on Friday at Milo McIver State Park. The Pilots were paced by a close group of finishers. Avery Owen led the way in 24th at 19:27.50, followed within seconds by Madison Griffith (25th, 19:27.83), Kate Kabenina (26th, 19:29.96), and Julia Ferreira (28th, 19:31.95). Janelle Avilez secured the fifth scoring spot for Portland in 33rd with a time of 19:46.80.

PILOT HISTORY
The Portland men's cross country team has made 24 appearances at the NCAA Championships, with 19 of those resulting in top-20 team finishes under longtime head coach Rob Conner. Their most impressive performances came in back-to-back years, placing second in 2017 and third in 2018. On the women's side, the Pilots have qualified for the national meet four times, highlighted by a program-best 12th-place finish led by head coach Ian Solof.

COACHES' ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Rob Conner enters his 35th year leading Portland's men's cross country and track & field programs. During his tenure, the Pilots have earned 24 NCAA Championship berths, 10 Top-10 national finishes, and 51 All-America honors. Conner guided the team to a program-best second place in 2017 and a third place in 2018, while also collecting 35 WCC titles. He has been named West Region Coach of the Year seven times and WCC Coach of the Year ninth times. In 2024, Conner was inducted into the WCC Hall of Honor before leading Portland to another championship title and receiving WCC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year recognition in the Fall.

Since 1995, Ian Solof has directed the Pilot women's distance program, bringing consistent success and growth. A former standout runner for Portland himself, Solof has guided the women's team to milestones such as a No. 5 national ranking in 2016 and a 12th-place finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships. His teams have captured 20 WCC titles, while several of his athletes have achieved All-America status. Solof's achievements have earned him WCC Coach of the Year honors seven times, underscoring his role as one of the program's most accomplished leaders.

PILOTS IN THE POLLS
• In the NCAA DI Cross Country National Coaches Preseason Polls, the Portland men received votes.
• In the West Region Week 1 Rankings, the men are currently seventh in the region, while the women sit at 11th.
 

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