Braden Taylor | Posted: 11 Feb 2021 | Updated: 25 Feb 2021

Men’s Cross Country Voted No. 1 in WCC Preseason Poll

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BYU men's cross country WCC preseason ranking - graphic
BYU men's cross country All-WCC preseason team - graphic

SAN MATEO, Calif. – BYU men’s cross country was the unanimous selection in the 2020-21 West Coast Conference Spring Men’s Cross Country Coaches Poll and four Cougars were named to the All-WCC Preseason Team, the league announced on Thursday.

BYU collected eight first-place votes for a perfect score of 64 points. The Cougars, which have won the last five WCC championships, are currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s national poll after winning the Silver State XC Challenge earlier this month. BYU's next cross country race will be the WCC championship meet, currently scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Craig Ranch Regional Park in Las Vegas. After claiming the first national championship in program history last season, the Cougars will look to defend their title at the 2020-21 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday, March 15 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

WCC coaches selected Casey Clinger, Brandon Garnica, Conner Mantz and Clayson Shumway to the 2020-21 All-WCC Spring Preseason Men’s Cross Country Team. Securing four of the 10 spots on the preseason team, the Cougars had the most runners included of any WCC school. Both Mantz and Garnica received All-WCC First Team honors in 2019 after placing in the top 10 at the WCC championships.

2020-21 WCC Spring Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll

Nomination Score
BYU (8) 64
Portland (1) 56
Gonzaga 51
Santa Clara 43
San Francisco 32
Pepperdine 24
Loyola Marymount 22
Saint Mary's 19
San Diego 13

2020-21 All-WCC Preseason Spring Men's Cross Country Team

Name Institution Yr.
Casey Clinger BYU So.
Brandon Garnica BYU Jr.
Yacine Guermali Gonzaga Jr.
Peter Hogan Gonzaga Sr.
Reuben Kiprono Portland Sr.
Conner Mantz BYU Jr.
James Mwaura Gonzaga Jr.
Riley Osen Portland Sr.
Clayson Shumway BYU Sr.
Evert Silva Portland Jr.