Aug. 6, 2009

Santa Clara's women's cross country team has been picked third and the men fourth in the 2009 West Coast Conference preseason poll, repeating last year's finish at the 2008 WCC Championship when the women were third and the men were fourth. In addition, three Broncos were named to the preseason All-Conference team: senior Stephanie Wilson, junior Robbie Reid and senior Alex Harkins.

Santa Clara opens the 2009 season at the USF Invitational in San Francisco Sat., Sept 5. SCU hosts the Bronco Invitational on Sat., Oct. 17 in Sunnyvale, Calif.

"Without factoring in the newcomers, Felipe and I believe the WCC pre-season poll is accurate based on last year's performance and returning runners," said Bronco head cross country coach Tom Service. "The most important poll is realized on Oct. 31 where look to finish much higher than our pre- season place. We are pleased that our fellow WCC coaches recognize the hard work that Alex, Robbie and Stephanie put in. All 3 are poised to have excellent 2009 seasons."

Wilson placed 10th at the 2008 West Coast Conference Championship with a 6k time of 22:32, picking up All-WCC honors. She placed 3rd in the Charles Bowles Invitational with a 5k time of 18:03 and sixth in the San Francisco Invitational with a 5k time of 18:18. She is a 2006 graduate of Archbishop Mitty in San Jose, Calif., who attended UC-Davis in 2006-07.

Reid placed ninth at the 2008 West Coast Conference Championships with an 8k time of 26:42, picking up All-WCC honors. He placed 70th in the NCAA West Regional on Nov. 15 with a 10k time of 31:14 and finished third in the West Coast Preview with an 8k time of 25:48. He is a 2007 graduate of Mountain View High.

Harkins placed 13th at the 2008 West Coast Conference Championships with an 8k time of 27:26 and was tabbed All-WCC honorable mention. He then placed 114th in the NCAA West Regional with a 10k time of 32:24. As a freshman in 2006, he placed 18th in the WCC Championships with a time of 26:36 in the 8k on 10/28. He is a 2006 graduate of De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif.

Portland's men and women were both picked to the win the WCC this season. The Pilots have won the men's race 30 consecutive years, the longest active streak for any cross country program in the country. Last season, Portland tied its program high with a seventh place finish at the NCAA. The Portland women have been just as dominant as the men, winning 19 of the 24 conference titles.

2009 WCC Preseason Men's Cross Country Poll

POR - 49 (7)

LMU - 40

USF -- 40 (1)

SCU - 31

GON - 23

PEP 20

USD - 11

SMC - 10

2009 WCC Preseason Women's Cross Country Poll

POR - 49 (7)

LMU - 42 (1)

SCU - 37

USF - 37

PEP - 20

GON - 19

USD - 18

SMC - 7