Portland Women Win the WCC Team and Individual Titles, while the Men take 2nd

Published by Portland SID on October 28th, 2016

SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- 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.