Gonzaga and Washington State Win Pac-12 Titles
The Gonzaga men and Washington State women claimed conference cross-country championships in Boise.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Running
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The Gonzaga men's cross-country team captured the Pac-12 conference championship with a score of 39 points, while the Washington State women's team secured their title with 50 points. Both programs showcased impressive depth to overcome conference rivals in the recent meet.
Why it matters
These victories solidify the regional dominance of these programs in collegiate cross-country. The performance of these athletes highlights the competitive level of the Pac-12 conference as the postseason season accelerates.
The Gonzaga men secured victory with a 39-56 score, notably keeping their five scoring runners within 23 seconds of each other. Washington State women claimed their title by a 50-62 margin despite missing two key runners.
The players
Gonzaga University
A private Catholic university based in Spokane that oversees a prominent collegiate athletics program.
Washington State University
A public research university in Pullman that maintains a highly competitive cross-country and track program.
Pat Tyson
The veteran coach who leads the cross-country team and has announced he will retire following the conclusion of the track season.
Solomon Kipchoge
A standout runner for Washington State who secured a victory in the men's individual competition.
Nelly Jemeli
A top-performing athlete from Washington State who claimed the women's individual title at the championships.
The details
Gonzaga utilized a disciplined pack attack strategy, placing four runners in the top 10 to outperform Utah State and third-place Washington State. Individually, Washington State swept the race victories as Solomon Kipchoge finished the men's 22:46.8 race and Nelly Jemeli won the women's event in 19 minutes 57 seconds.
Timeline
October 24, 2026: The Pac-12 conference cross-country championships were held in Boise.
Season Trajectory
These victories elevate the profiles of Gonzaga and Washington State as they prepare for the remainder of the postseason circuit. Their performance establishes them as serious contenders, shifting the competitive balance within the conference as they face off against regional peers like Northern Arizona.
The pack-style success for the Gonzaga men indicates a strong scoring potential that translates directly into high rankings for upcoming regional and national meets. Similarly, the ability of the Washington State women to win despite roster absences suggests significant depth that will affect their seeding in future championship rounds.
The takeaway
Maintaining a tight pack of runners is a highly effective strategy for securing low team scores in championship meets. These results demonstrate how individual talent combined with strategic team depth defines modern collegiate success in cross-country.
Further reading
For more updates on collegiate results, visit the Running section.
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