Pac-12 Cross Country totals 14 All-Americans, two podium finishes at 2019 NCAA Championships
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Pac-12 led all leagues with 14 combined All-America finishers and matched the national-high with a pair of podium teams to highlight the Conference’s showing at the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships at Indiana State’s LaVern Gibson Championship Course on Saturday.
In the women’s six-kilometer race, the 2019 Pac-12 champion STANFORD women (123 points) finished third behind first-time national titlist Arkansas (96) and runner-up BYU (102). It marked the Cardinal’s third consecutive top-5 showing and best finish since also placing third in 2012.
Notably, UTAH placed a program-best 16th in its third-ever NCAA Championship appearance to cap its best campaign in school history.
As a league, the Pac-12 accounted for seven women’s top-40 finishers to lead all conferences in All-Americans for the fourth consecutive year. Since expanding in 2011, the Pac-12 now leads all leagues with 84 total women’s All-Americans, more than double the next closest conference, and 18 top-5 women’s team finishes.
Noteworthy on the individual side, a trio of Pac-12 women’s runners capped their outstanding careers as four-time All-Americans in COLORADO’s Sage Hurta, Stanford’s Fiona O’Keeffe and WASHINGTON’s Katie Rainsberger.
PAC-12 WOMEN’S TEAM FINISHES (Plus champion)
1. Arkansas – 96
3. STANFORD – 123
10. COLORADO – 294
11. WASHINGTON – 296
16. UTAH – 471
26. OREGON – 618
PAC-12 WOMEN’S ALL-AMERICANS (Finish/* - career All-America honors)
Ella Donaghu, Jr., Stanford (8th)*
Jessica Lawson, Jr., Stanford (11th)*
Mel Smart, Fr., Washington (12th)*
Fiona O’Keeffe, Sr., Stanford (27th)****
Katie Rainsberger, Sr., Washington (33rd)****
Christina Rice, Jr., UCLA (37th)*
Sage Hurta, Sr., Colorado (38th)****
In the men’s 10-kilometer race, the 2019 Pac-12 champion Colorado men (164 points) finished third behind first-time NCAA titlist BYU (109) as the Cougars upset and unseated three-time reigning champion Northern Arizona (163). It marked the Buffaloes’ second straight podium appearance (4th in 2018) and best finish since a runner-up showing in 2015. It was also the 14th year in a row the league landed a men’s program on the podium.
The Pac-12 paced the nation in men’s All-Americans for the second consecutive year and eighth time in the last nine years as the league boasted seven top-40 finishers, tied with the Big Ten for the most in this year’s field.
Colorado senior John Dressel secured his fourth career All-America honor, while teammate Joe Klecker – the 2019 Pac-12 individual champion who finished runner-up to Iowa State's Edwin Kurgat – and Stanford’s Alex Ostberg added a third top-40 performance to their résumés. Both the Buffaloes and Cardinal had a trio of All-Americans, matching the Cougars and Lumberjacks for the most in the top 40.
Since expanding in 2011, the Pac-12 now leads all leagues with 75 total men’s All-Americans and 15 top-5 men’s team finishes.
PAC-12 MEN’S TEAM FINISHES (Plus champion)
1. BYU – 109
3. COLORADO – 164
6. STANFORD – 248
9. OREGON – 307
19. WASHINGTON – 466
PAC-12 MEN’S ALL-AMERICANS (Finish/* - career All-America honors)
Joe Klecker, Sr., Colorado (2nd)***
Cooper Teare, Jr., Oregon (6th)
John Dressel, Sr., Colorado (7th)****
Alex Ostberg, Sr., Stanford (25th)***
Alek Parsons, Jr., Stanford (34th)**
Steven Fahy, Sr., Stanford (35th)**
Alec Hornecker, Jr., Colorado (38th)