Zags Women WCC Title For First Time Since 2015; Pilots Pack Up For Men's Win 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Gonzaga photo

Rosina Machu won her second consecutive West Coast Conference cross country title and led Gonzaga to its first women's team title at the meet since 2015 on Saturday in Lodi, Calif.

Machu, who was third at the Nuttycombe Invitational in September, won the conference meet by 18 seconds in 19:45.3. 

The Gonzaga women got a big contribution from freshman Logan Hofstee, who finished fifth. The Bulldogs scored 35 points to beat Portland (49) and newcomers to the conference meet,  Washington State (63) and Oregon State (83). 

The Portland Pilots asserted themselves over the second half of the race and won the men's team title with 26 points. They put all five scorers in the top nine.

Gonzaga was second with 43 and Washington State, making its first appearance in the conference meet, was third with 61 points. 

Those top three teams accounted for the top 19 finishers in the race. 

The Cougars made their presence felt up front with freshman Evans Kurui winning the individual title by 20 seconds in 22:52.0. 

Matt Strangio, who won the WCC individual title last year, led the Pilots with his second-place finish in 23:12.0 and teammates Jona Bodirsky and Bradley Peloquin finished fourth and fifth. 

Wil Smith led the Zags with his third place finish in 23:16.0. Bryce Cerkowniak was the No. 2 man for Gonzaga in sixth. 

Santa Clara was fourth with 131 points.