BYU cross country sweeps WCC Championship…again
BYU cross country coaches Ed Eyestone and Diljeet Taylor are no strangers to winning, but this past weekend they again showed that BYU has one of the country’s most dominant cross country programs.
For the ninth time in 11 years, BYU men’s cross country finds themselves atop the West Coast Conference, while the BYU women took home their fourth-straight conference title.
Men continue impressive streak
The BYU men’s cross country team has taken home seven consecutive WCC titles including the 2021 Championship this past Saturday in California. With the win on Saturday, the men recorded their 30th conference championship in the program’s 60-year history.
Conner Mantz took home his third WCC title in as many years with an 8K time of 23:01.0. To characterize Mantz’s season as dominant may be a bit of an understatement, as the senior from Smithfield, Utah has won all four meets this season, extending his winning streak to seven, dating back to last season. His seven meet winning streak includes two WCC Championships and the 2021 NCAA National Championship.
“I’m super pleased with Mantz,” Eyestone said. “With how strong and dominant he’s been, it’s only appropriate that he end his WCC career this way.”
Women continue dominance
The defending national champions took home their fourth-straight conference title over the weekend. The women have hoisted the conference championship trophy 20 times since the Western Athletic Conference introduced women’s cross country in 1992.
Whittni Orton posted a 20:01.0 time for the 6K meet to secure her second individual WCC title by five seconds over the second-place finisher. Her victory over the weekend marks Orton’s second victory in as many events this season.
Both the men and women have a two-week break before they compete at the NCAA Mountain Regionals in Provo on Nov. 12.
