Portland women win the team and individual WCC Championship titles, while men take second

Athletics

October 28, 2016

The eighth-ranked Portland women's team won the 2016 West Coast Conference Cross Country Championship on Friday, while junior Lauren LaRocco ran away from the field to win the individual title at Mission Bay Park. The No. 12 Portland men also had a solid showing at the WCC's, finishing second only to No. 4 BYU.
 
It's the 20th WCC team title for the Portland women and the first since 2008. It's also the 10th time the Pilots won both the team and individual crowns in the same year, and the first since Dana Morgan led Portland in 2007.
 
LaRocco pulled away early in the 6K race and held onto a huge lead, claiming the 2016 individual title with a time of 20:27.8. Parkes Kendrick used a strong kick to finish sixth overall, covering the course in a time of 21:02.5. Anne Luijten also claimed a top-10 finish (21:08.9), while teammates Anna Farello (21:12.9), Taryn Rawlings (21:20.7), Mathilde Sagnes (21:40.7), and Grace McConnochie (21.58.0) all placed in the top 25, giving the team title to the Pilots.
 
LaRocco, Kendrick, and Luijten each earned All-WCC First Team honors, while Farello and Rawlings received WCC Honorable Mention.
 
The men's 8K race turned into a two-team race early, with both the Pilots and Cougars making up most of the lead pack. BYU edged the Pilots in the end, but both teams were well ahead of the rest of the schools. Nick Hauger led the way for the Pilots finishing third in 24:29.2, while Jeff Thies (24:45.0, 8th) and Stephen Mulherin (24:49.1, 9th) also posted top-10 times. Timothy Ball (24:56.4), Danny Martinez (24:57.9), Brady Johnson, and Timo Goehler (25:18.9) all finished in the top-25.
 
Hauger, Thies and Mulherin land on the All-WCC First Team, while Ball and Martinez earn all-conference honorable mention.
 
 
WCC Championships
Mission Bay Park, San Diego, Calif. 
October 28, 2016
 
Women's Results – 6K (#-National Ranking USTFCCCA)
1. #8 Portland 42, 2. #20 BYU 44, 3. #13 San Francisco 47, 4. Gonzaga 139, 5. Loyola Marymount 150, 6. San Diego 168, 7. Saint Mary's 176, 8. Santa Clara 254, 9. Pacific 259, 10. Pepperdine 290
 
Portland Women's individuals
1. Lauren LAROCCO (20:27.4), 6. Parkes KENDRICK (21:02.5), 10. Anne LUIJTEN (21:08.9), 12. Anna FARELLO (21:12.9), 13. Taryn RAWLINGS (21:20.7), 20. Mathilde SAGNES (21:40.7), 22. Grace MCCONNOCHIE (21:58.0), 27. Courtney COX (22:19.6), 47. Lindsey THOMPKINS (23:25.3)
 
Women's All-WCC First Team
Lauren LaRocco - Portland
Yesenia Silva - BYU
Marie Bouchard – San Francisco
Jordan Thurston - Gonzaga
Weronika Pyzik – San Francisco
Parkes Kendrick – Portland
Elena Burkard – San Francisco
Laura Young – BY
Erica Birk - BYU
Anne Luijten - Portland
 
WCC Honorable Mention
Ashleigh Warner - BYU, Anna Farello – Portland, Taryn Rawlings – Portland, Courtney Wayment – BYU, Tatjana Schulte – San Francisco
 
Men's Results – 8K (#-National Ranking USTFCCCA)
1. #4 BYU 24, 2. #12 Portland 45, 3. San Francisco 92, 4. Gonzaga 123, 5. Saint Mary's 150, 6. Loyola Marymount 168, 7. Santa Clara 197, 8. Pepperdine 229, 9. San Diego 233.   
 
Portland Men's Individuals
3. Nick HAUGER (24:29.2), 8. Jeff THIES (24:45.0), 9. Stephen MULHERIN (24:49.1), 12. Timothy BALL (24:56.4), 13. Danny MARTINEZ (24:57.9), 17. Brady JOHNSON (25:06.2) 21. Timo GOEHLER (25:18.9), 27. Caleb WEBB (25:28.4), 28. Logan ORNDORF (25:32.0)
 
Men's All-WCC First Team
Alex Short – San Francisco
Jonathan Harper – BYU
Nick Hauger – Portland
Rory Linkletter – BYU
Brayden McLelland – BYU
Nicolas Montanez – BYU
Clayton Young – BYU
Jeff Thies – Portland
Stephen Mulherin – Portland
Gabe Arias-Sheridan – Saint Mary's
 
WCC Honorable Mention
Spender Hanson – BYU, Timothy Ball – Portland, Danny Martinez – Portland, Mitchell Briggs – BYU, Daniel Carney - BYU