Photo by: Christina Leung
Dons Picked Second, Seven Named to the All-WCC Preseason Team
8/27/2026 11:00:00 AM | Cross Country
SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference officially announced the 2026 Men's and Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll and Preseason All-WCC Teams on Thursday morning.
For San Francisco, both the men's and women's programs were selected to finish second, and Daniel Abramowicz, Leo Conil, Herbie Johnson, Faustine Chaboche, Petra Helebrantová, Anna Büttner, and Poppy Martin were named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
On the men's side, the Dons landed three All-WCC Preseason honors, the most by the program in over 15 years. The green and gold also matches its best selection on the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll since 2010. The women's team was also slotted to finish second in the preseason poll while landing four student-athletes on the WCC Preseason Team, the most by any program in the conference this season. The Dons also received the most first-place votes of any team in the league with five.
Overall, Portland was selected to finish first in the conference on the men's and women's sides, just edging out the green and gold.
San Francisco kicks off the 2026 season at home when it hosts the 33rd annual USF Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4, at Golden Gate Park.
For more information on the San Francisco cross country and track and field programs, follow @donsxctf on Twitter, @donsxctf on Instagram, and @donsxctf on Facebook.
For San Francisco, both the men's and women's programs were selected to finish second, and Daniel Abramowicz, Leo Conil, Herbie Johnson, Faustine Chaboche, Petra Helebrantová, Anna Büttner, and Poppy Martin were named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
On the men's side, the Dons landed three All-WCC Preseason honors, the most by the program in over 15 years. The green and gold also matches its best selection on the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll since 2010. The women's team was also slotted to finish second in the preseason poll while landing four student-athletes on the WCC Preseason Team, the most by any program in the conference this season. The Dons also received the most first-place votes of any team in the league with five.
Overall, Portland was selected to finish first in the conference on the men's and women's sides, just edging out the green and gold.
San Francisco kicks off the 2026 season at home when it hosts the 33rd annual USF Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4, at Golden Gate Park.
| 2026 West Coast Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll | |||
| Place | Team | First Place | Points |
| 1. | Portland | 7 | 49 |
| 2. | San Francisco | 1 | 39 |
| 3. | Saint Mary's | 38 | |
| 4. | Santa Clara | 34 | |
| 5. | Pepperdine | 24 | |
| 6. | Pacific | 18 | |
| 7. | Seattle U | 12 | |
| 8. | San Diego | 10 | |
| 2026 Men's Cross Country All-WCC Preseason Team | ||
| Name | Institution | Yr. |
| Daniel Abramowicz | San Francisco | Gr. |
| Paul Beaven | Santa Clara | Sr. |
| Dennis Cheruiyot | Saint Mary's | Jr. |
| Leo Conil | San Francisco | Sr. |
| Damian Frausto | Saint Mary's | Gr. |
| Anthony Giesch | Portland | Jr. |
| Herbie Johnson | San Francisco | So. |
| Joseph O'Connell | Saint Mary's | Gr. |
| Liam Papavasiliou | Santa Clara | Jr. |
| Cameron Stein | Portland | Gr. |
| Jack Tolbert | Santa Clara | Gr. |
| 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. |
For more information on the San Francisco cross country and track and field programs, follow @donsxctf on Twitter, @donsxctf on Instagram, and @donsxctf on Facebook.
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