Both USF's men's and women's cross-country teams ran in thick fog to seventh place finishes at the West Coast Conference Championships held two weekends ago in Belmont. The two-month cross country season culminates for most of USF's runners with the WCC champs, but four of the 12 runners who competed in the races will have a final go at competition this weekend at the NCAA District 8 Regionals, to be held at Woodward Park in Fresno.
Senior Pantea Jahani, who was USF's top finisher at the WCC champs, placing 14th out of a field of approximately 60 runners, should lead senior Sara Gigliotti and junior Laura Kuzminsky at Regionals, while junior Matt Ziblitch will be USF's lone representative from the men's team. Both the men's and women's teams were plagued with injuries this season, resulting in numerous runners, including half of the original men's team, being unable to complete the season.Only five out of the 10 members of the men's team ran in the WCC champs, in which seven are allowed to participate. Other men who competed in the race included sophomore Pasquale Mejia, senior Aaron Rhodes, and freshmen Jeff Lam and Gabriel Median. But Head cross country Coach John Drocco and Ziblitch noted that the team is young and they have faith that next year, the team will be stronger, with members who are more committed (TheFoghorn).
