8/27/2010 10:20:19 AM
SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- The University of Portland was chosen to take home the West Coast Conference title again this year according to the 2010 WCC Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Thursday. The Pilots, who have won a record 31 straight league titles, earned the maximum 49 points votes in the preseason poll.
Last season Portland raced to a 13th place finish at the NCAA Championships despite taking five underclassmen to the national meet. Junior Alfred Kipchumba, a unanimous 2010 preseason all-conference selection, took first at the WCC Championships by running the 8K course in 24:20, breaking the previous record by 33 seconds. Four more Pilot runners join Kipchumba on the preseason all-conference list, three of whom finished in the Top 10 at the 2009 WCC Championships: redshirt sophomore Jared Bassett, sophomore Lars Erik Malde, and redshirt junior Matthew Frerker. Remaining preseason all-conference selection Pilot sophomore Trevor Dunbar did not compete at the 2009 WCC Championships but won the USA Junior Cross Country Championships and represented the USA at the IAAF World Cross Country Junior Championships.
Loyola Marymount and San Francisco tied for second in the preseason coaches poll with 40 points for the second year in a row. Lion sophomore Sterling Lockert was named to the preseason all-conference team, while San Francisco junior Ganbileg Bor secured a spot on the all-conference team as well. Santa Clara took fourth and had two runners named to the all-conference team in senior Robbie Reid and senior Chris Sampson, while Gonzaga was fifth and had sophomore Chris Boyle earn a spot on the preseason All-WCC team. San Diego, Pepperdine and Saint Mary’s rounded out the poll.
The Portland cross country teams will open the 2010 season at the John Frank Memorial Invitational in Corvallis, Ore. on Sept. 3 and then host the annual Pier Park Invitational on Friday, Sept. 10 in Portland.
2010 WCC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Portland - 49 (7)
2. Loyola Marymount - 40
2. San Francisco – 40 (1)
4. Santa Clara - 31
5. Gonzaga - 25
6. San Diego - 16
7. Pepperdine - 15
8. Saint Mary’s - 8
(First place votes)
Preseason All-Conference
Alfred Kipchumba, POR
Chris Boyle, GON
Chris Sampson, SCU
Ganbileg Bor, USF
Jared Bassett, POR
Lars Erik Malde, POR
Matt Frerker, POR
Robbie Reid, SCU
Sterling Lockert, LMU
Trevor Dunbar, POR