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BYU Men’s and Women’s Cross Country both picked to top WCC

By Shaun Gordon

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 07: Starting blocks at the Carrara Stadium on day three of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium on April 7, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 07: Starting blocks at the Carrara Stadium on day three of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium on April 7, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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Both BYU cross country teams were picked by WCC coaches to top the conference in 2018, and eight Cougars were given preseason All-WCC honors.

BYU has a very good cross country program, and the West Coast Conference knows it.

On Wednesday, the WCC coaches picked the BYU Men’s Cross Country team to win the conference title, and they split the first place votes for the women between BYU and San Francisco.

For the men, a conference title would be their fourth in a row, and their fifth in six years. For the women, it would be their first WCC championship since 2014. They’ve finished second every year since.

For the men, the pick comes as no surprise. They were the second best team in the nation for most of 2017, finishing third in the NCAA Championships.

The women haven’t been quite as dominant, although they’ve qualified for nationals for three straight years, finishing 11th last season.

Along with the poll, the coaches also voted on the All-WCC preseason teams. 10 players were picked on both the men’s and women’s sides, and eight total Cougars found themselves on the list.

Five men earned the preseason All-WAC honors:

  • Daniel Carney (Sr.)
  • Rory Linkletter (Sr.)
  • Connor McMillan (Sr.)
  • Clayton Young (Sr.)
  • Kramer Morton (So.)

On the women’s side, three Cougars were voted to the team:

  • Olivia Hoj (Jr.)
  • Courtney Wayment-Smith (Jr.)
  • Sara Musselman (So.)

If the men’s team wants to make a splash nationally, this is the time to do it. They’re a senior-laden team with plenty of talent, and runners such as Linkletter, McMillan, and Young will anchor the team.

The women aren’t quite as senior-heavy, with their best runners being right in the middle of their Cougar careers.

Both teams will have a giant advantage in their quest for this year’s WCC title. Both the men’s and women’s championships are being held at East Bay Golf Course in Provo.

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