SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Portland claimed the top spot in the 2026 West Coast Conference Women's Cross Country Coaches Preseason Poll in a close race with second-place San Francisco.

The preseason poll and the all-conference preseason team were selected solely by a vote of the conference’s nine head coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own team and student-athletes.

Portland, with 59 points and three first-place votes, edged out San Francisco who received 58 total points and five first-place votes. Santa Clara followed in thrid place with 49 points, while Saint Mary's was next in fourth with 46 points and earned the remaining first-place vote. 

San Francisco led the way with four Dons on the preseason team, highlighted by 2025 all-conference first team honoree, Anna Buettner, and Faustine Chaboche, who earned 2025 all-conference second team accolades. 2025 all-conference second team recipient, Megan Crum from Portland, was one of three Pilots to make the preseason team. Santa Clara's Milaina Almonte, a 2025 all-conference first team honoree, also made the preseason team. Pepperdine and San Diego each featured a runner on the preseason team, as well. Chaboche (USF) is the only returner from last season's preseason team.

The 2026 West Coast Conference Women's Cross Country Championships will be held on Friday, October 30, and hosted by San Diego at Tecolote Shores in San Diego, Calif.
 

2026 West Coast Conference Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
Place	Team	First Place	Points
1.	Portland	3	59
2.	San Francisco	5	58
3.	Santa Clara		49
4.	Saint Mary's	1	46
5.	San Diego		30
6.	LMU		26
7.	Pepperdine		25
8.	Pacific		19
9.	Seattle U		12

 

2026 Women’s Cross Country All-WCC Preseason Team
Name	Institution	Yr.
Milaina Almonte	Santa Clara	Sr.
Clare Boneau	San Diego	So.
Anna Buettner	San Francisco	Sr.
Faustine Chaboche	San Francisco	Sr.
Elizabeth Crawford	Pepperdine	Sr.
Megan Crum	Portland	So.
Petra Helebrantova	San Francisco	Sr.
Poppy Martin	San Francisco	Jr.
Viola Paoletti	Portland	Fr.
Latham West	Portland	Fr.