STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford cross country is back in action this week as the Cardinal embarks to California’s capitol city for the NCAA DI West Regional at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif.
Stanford hits the course at 9 a.m. for the Women’s 6K Championship while the Men’s 10K Championship follows at 10 a.m. Live results for Friday’s meet can be found here.
Stanford continues its postseason push following a successful second trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Cross Country Championships to conclude October. The Stanford women grabbed a fourth place team finish with Sophia Kennedy leading the way with a seventh place individual finish while the Stanford men grabbed seventh with Leo Young leading the way.
Kennedy’s collegiate-best time of 19:35.4 earned her All-ACC honors as she claimed a top-10 finish. Holding steady throughout the race, Kennedy kept pace near the top, earning her second top-10 finish of the season. Also scoring for Stanford, Mena Scatchard earned a 23rd place finish with her best run in a Cardinal uniform while Julia Flynn, Riley Stewart and Hanne Thomsen finished in order for the Cardinal.
The Cardinal men grabbed two All-ACC honors with the duo of Leo Young and James Dargan placing inside the top-21 harriers. Young, who held stride with the top of the pack through the 4000m mark, earned a career-best time of 22:55.0 while nabbing fifth place in a photo finish among places third through ninth. Dargan, meanwhile, increased 19 positions overall during his run to place 19th overall with a personal-best time of 23:18.1 to claim the all-conference honor. Josh Bell and Evan Noonan also ran well, earning season-best times to rank inside the top-50.
The Cardinal enters nine student-athletes for the Women’s 6K Championship including what could be the season debut for Amy Bunnage. Stanford also enters Maya De Brouwer, Julia Flynn, Sophia Kennedy, Mena Scatchard, Riley Stewart, Hillary Studdert, Hanne Thomsen and Juliette Whittaker for Friday’s outing.
On the men’s side, Stanford’s lineup includes Josh Bell, Toby Chippendale, James Dargan, Byron Grevious, Evan Noonan, Gavin Sherry, Milo Skapinsky, Nolan Topper, and Quinn White. Also entered for the Cardinal are the Young brothers, Leo and Lex, who could be racing together for the first time this season.
LAST TIME AT THE WEST REGIONAL
Stanford secured a 32nd consecutive NCAA Championship appearance following the West Regional last season as the Cardinal women nabbed second place at Colfax Golf Club in Colfax, Wash. Amy Bunnage led the Stanford women in her season debut by becoming the eighth different Stanford woman to win a regional title. Following Bunnage, Sophia Kennedy, Riley Stewart and Zofia Dudek all earned all-region honors by placing inside the top 25.
For the Cardinal men, Stanford saw its three-year winning streak at the west regional come to a halt as Washington and Oregon outpaced the Cardinal in the final 1000 meters. Cole Sprout led the way for the Cardinal while Leo Young claimed a top-10 finish.
Six harriers return for another crack at a regional crown for the Cardinal including four on the women’s side as the Cardinal looks to grab a 33rd consecutive bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
THE FIELD
40 teams embark to The Golden State for Friday’s championship races with seven programs currently ranked nationally in the latest USTFCCCA Coaches’ Poll. Oregon currently leads the ranked pack with the women’s team slotted at No. 4 while the men are ranked at No. 7. Washington State is ranked at No. 11 for the men’s side followed by Cal Baptist at No. 17 and Boise State at No. 29.
On the women’s side, Stanford follows Oregon at No. 11 in the nation with Washington and Washington State close behind at No. 18 and No. 24, respectively. Gonzaga is also ranked heading into Friday at No. 28 while Boise State is close behind and receiving one vote.