NEW ORLEANS — Saint Mary's Men's Cross Country will open their season on Friday with the most buzz in program history, coming into the season ranked 11th in the West Region. This is the highest preseason regional ranking the Gaels have received in program history, and comes on the back of their program record 14th place finish at last year's regionals. 

The Gaels return four of their top five runners from last year, including their top finisher in every race from a season ago, Zane Jackson. On top of the group of returners, Saint Mary's brought in a star studded recruiting class of 18, headlined by transfers Divan Du Plooy (South Plains College), Jon Fielding Stogner (Lee University) and Foster Wilfong (Furman). 

The Gaels are one of six WCC schools represented in the west region rankings to open the season. Washington State (#5), Portland (#6) and Gonzaga (#8) all cracked the top-10, while Santa Clara (#12) and San Francisco (#15) each come in ranked just behind the Gaels. The 2025 campaign kicks off Friday at the USF Invitational at Golden Gate Park.

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