XC | Rayna Stanziano named to Preseason All-WCC Team
8/31/2022 2:02:00 PM | Cross Country
SAN MATEO, Calif. – Just four days before their season opener, the Gaels have learned that junior Rayna Stanziano has been named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
Stanziano's inclusion marks the first time any Gael has been named to the All-WCC Preseason Team since Rajpaul Pannu in 2013. Along with the preseason teams, the conference announced the WCC Preseason Polls as well, which has the women's team finishing sixth and the men's team finishing fifth.
Stanziano had one of the best cross-country seasons in Gaels history last year, running six races, with five of those times landing inside the top-10 in SMC history. On two occasions, Stanziano set the Saint Mary's record in the 6k, first coming eighth in the UCR Invitational with a time of 20:38.1, and then by finishing fourth at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 20:11.9.
Stanziano also ran a 20:33.8 in the NCAA West Regionals, where she finished 25th overall. After her phenomenal season, Stanziano was named to the All-West Region team, the second time in program history a Gael has earned the honor.
Of the ten players on the WCC's preseason team, three of the runners come from BYU. Gonzaga, San Francisco, and Portland all have two runners respectively. Including Stanziano, four of the runners are juniors, while three seniors, two sophomores, and one graduate student make up the rest of the team.
The WCC has chosen the Gaels to finish sixth in the conference, with BYU and Gonzaga occupying the top two spots in the standings. Portland, San Francisco, and Santa Clara occupy the next three spots above the Gaels.
The complete Preseason All-WCC teams and Preseason Polls can be found below.
Stanziano's inclusion marks the first time any Gael has been named to the All-WCC Preseason Team since Rajpaul Pannu in 2013. Along with the preseason teams, the conference announced the WCC Preseason Polls as well, which has the women's team finishing sixth and the men's team finishing fifth.
Stanziano had one of the best cross-country seasons in Gaels history last year, running six races, with five of those times landing inside the top-10 in SMC history. On two occasions, Stanziano set the Saint Mary's record in the 6k, first coming eighth in the UCR Invitational with a time of 20:38.1, and then by finishing fourth at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 20:11.9.
Stanziano also ran a 20:33.8 in the NCAA West Regionals, where she finished 25th overall. After her phenomenal season, Stanziano was named to the All-West Region team, the second time in program history a Gael has earned the honor.
Of the ten players on the WCC's preseason team, three of the runners come from BYU. Gonzaga, San Francisco, and Portland all have two runners respectively. Including Stanziano, four of the runners are juniors, while three seniors, two sophomores, and one graduate student make up the rest of the team.
The WCC has chosen the Gaels to finish sixth in the conference, with BYU and Gonzaga occupying the top two spots in the standings. Portland, San Francisco, and Santa Clara occupy the next three spots above the Gaels.
The complete Preseason All-WCC teams and Preseason Polls can be found below.
2022 WCC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
Team – points (first-place votes)
1. BYU - 81 (9)
2. Gonzaga - 71
3. Portland – 63 (1)
4. San Francisco - 60
5. Santa Clara - 50
6. Saint Mary's - 39
7. LMU - 29
8. Pepperdine - 23
9. San Diego - 23
10. Pacific - 11
2022 WCC Women's Cross Country Preseason Team
Alicia Anderson, Gonzaga
Aubrey Frentheway, BYU
Kristen Garcia, Gonzaga
Lexy Halladay, BYU
Emma Jenkins, Portland
Eve Jensen, San Francisco
McKenna Lee, BYU
Laura Pellicoro, Portland
Ruby Smee, San Francisco
Rayna Stanziano, Saint Mary's
2022 WCC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
Team – points (first-place votes)
1. BYU - 62 (6)
2. Gonzaga - 54 (2)
3. Portland – 54 (1)
4. Santa Clara - 44
5. Saint Mary's – 35
6. LMU - 25
7. Pepperdine - 22
8. San Francisco - 17
9. San Diego - 11
2022 WCC Men's Cross Country Preseason Team
Lucas Bons, BYU
Casey Clinger, BYU
Cathal Doyle, Portland
Brandon Garnica, BYU
Yacine Guermali, Gonzaga
Zak Kirk, Portland
Zach Litoff, Santa Clara
Cullen McEachern, Gonzaga
James Mwaura, Gonzaga
Wil Smith, Gonzaga
The Gaels are set to open their season on Saturday September 3rd at the USF Invitational.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
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