Men's Meet Results | Women's Meet Results
 
LAS VEGAS – The Loyola Marymount University Lions men's and women's cross country teams traveled to Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas, Nevada to compete in the West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships. The men scored 203 points while the women tallied 206 points in a championship that featured the number one ranked men's team in the nation, the number two ranked women's team, as well as two other nationally ranked teams.
 
"We're happy to be back racing and so grateful for the opportunity, but we know we came up a bit short today," said head coach Scott Guerrero. "After almost 15 months away from competition, we need to keep it in perspective. We'll take all the positives that we can away from this race, and use the rest as fuel for our training in preparation for track season and next fall."
 
Starting the race, the Lion men were led by Miguel Barrera-Lopez and Estanis Ruiz through the first 2,000 meters. Ethan Frisone stepped up to lead the Lions through the middle part of the race while Roberto Ruelas and Barrera-Lopez caught Frisone at the finish for a tight 1-2-3 pack across the line. Top finisher Ruelas covered the 8k course in 25:43 for 36th place, followed by the duo of Barrera-Lopez at 25:45, good for 37th overall and Frisone at 25:45 for 38th place.
 
Ruiz held on for 42nd place, while Andrew Biehl stepped up big for LMU, placing 59th in 26:57.9 to round out the Lions' scoring five.
 
"On the men's side, Ethan Frisone and Roberto Ruelas ran smart tactical races and were able to build throughout the second half. The race of the day has to go to Andrew Biehl, who stepped up big time for us as our fifth scorer, in his first ever race at the 8k distance," said Guerrero.
 
The women's team was in a tight battle for sixth place, finishing behind Saint Mary's and Santa Clara despite making up ground through each 1,000 meter split. LMU finished just five points behind Santa Clara in seventh, and six points behind Saint Mary's in sixth.
 
The LMU women were led by Samantha Barajas, who made her cross country debut for the Lions in the championships. Barajas' time of 22:33 was good for 35th overall. Lauren Wagner was the next Lion to cross the line with a time of 22:59, putting her in 43rd. She was followed by Dani Rowlinson in 46th place at 23:03, and Ann Kelly in 48th with a time of 23:45.
 
"Our women ran a smart tactical race and were gaining ground through every 1km split, the truth is we just didn't have enough today and came up short in the end," said Guerrero. "It definitely stings to lose such a tight battle, but we'll remember this and use it as fuel for training and the track season ahead."
 
The WCC Championships marked the culmination of the postponed 2020 Cross Country season. The Lions will now transition back to Outdoor Track, with the Ben Brown Invitational at Cal State Fullerton on March 12th.