Arlington, Texas - As the 2024 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Cross Country Championships approach, anticipation builds for the competition at Lakeside Park, hosted by Utah Valley on November 1st. The California Baptist men’s team was selected as the
soldout.com pre-championship favorites for the third consecutive year, while the Utah Valley women’s team was projected to finish first according to the conference head coaches. Both reflected the results of last season’s championship winners.
Both the men’s and women’s polls display a competitive field, with teams like Southern Utah, Grand Canyon, and Tarleton State also among the top five in the men’s standings. For the women, alongside Utah Valley and California Baptist, Southern Utah, UT Arlington, and Seattle U were also key contenders rounding out the projected top five ahead of the conference meet. These rankings highlight the teams to watch as the championships approach.
2024 WAC Men’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll
- California Baptist
- Utah Valley
- Southern Utah
- Grand Canyon
- Tarleton State
2024 WAC Women’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll
- Utah Valley
- California Baptist
- Southern Utah
- UT Arlington
- Seattle U
WAC SCHOOLS BATTLE TOP COMPETITION NATIONWIDE
The 2024 season has been a true proving ground for WAC cross country teams, with programs competing against some of the nation’s top-ranked schools. The California Baptist men’s team took on the challenge at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invite, securing a podium finish ahead of #30 Michigan State, and then earned a top 10 spot at Pre-Nationals, finishing just behind programs like Syracuse and Notre Dame. On the women’s side, Utah Valley held its own at the BYU Classic, placing second behind nationally ranked BYU.
FRESHMEN MAKING WAVES IN THEIR FIRST SEASONS
The 2024 cross country season has spotlighted several outstanding freshmen in the WAC, all making early impacts on their teams. California Baptist's Zouhair Redouane kicked off his collegiate career with individual wins at Cal State Fullerton’s Mark Covert Invitational and the UCR Invitational, earning WAC Men’s Athlete of the Week honors three times. CBU’s Ava Dyck also stood out in her debut, finishing fifth in the women’s 6K and leading her team to a top three finish. UT Arlington’s Matro Jepkemboi has also impressed, securing multiple top finishes, including a runner-up spot at the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational. Abilene Christian’s Andruw Villa also added to the rising star list at the UTA Invite, claiming third place for the Wildcat men’s team.
DEPTH OF CBU MEN’S AND UVU WOMEN’S TEAMS FUELS SUCCESS
Depth has been a cornerstone of success this season for the California Baptist men’s and Utah Valley women’s teams, with both programs fielding formidable squads at every meet. CBU’s men’s team has consistently placed multiple runners in the top 15 across several high-profile competitions, including the Joe Piane Invite and Pre-Nationals, where athletes like Valentin Soca, Daniel Abdala, and Pedro Marin delivered alongside Zouhair Redouane. The UVU women, led by Oakley Olson, Caila Odekirk, and Anna Martin, showcased incredible depth, even sweeping the top seven spots at the Seattle U Color Country Invite.