Women’s Cross Country | November 10, 2023
Junior Gigi Maccanini led the USC women’s cross country to a 29th-place finish at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country West Regional (6K) at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif. today (Nov. 10). It was only the second time since the 2015 season that the Trojans sent a team to the regional (2021).
The Trojans had an average time of 22:07 per runner which was 11 seconds faster than the teams’ average at the 2021 West Regional. Also, USC’s top three runners this meet had a faster time than USC’s leading-runner at the 2021 meet. USC’s top five runners finished in the exact same order as they did at the Pac-12 Championships on Oct. 27.
“I’m truly proud of our team,” said USC Associate Head Coach of Cross Country/Assistant Coach Track and Field Jebreh Harris. “We’ve been steadily progressing as the season went along. Gigi, Marjourie, Tracy, Marina, Marne, and Lucia are the athletes we had competing for us today. What is not directly seen is the progression of the culture and dynamics of our distance program. They were there for each other today and the entire season. Gigi ran as our No. 1 and ran with great energy and positive leadership. I reckon our squad is due to have awesome indoor and outdoor seasons. We are looking forward to the rest of the year.”
Maccagnini led the Trojans with a time of 21:14.9 to finish 109th overall (108th in scoring), increasing her standing at all four of the timing markers (1-mile, 1.5-mile, 2.5-miles, 3-miles and 6K). Maccagnini had over a minute improvement on this course from when she competed as a freshman at the 2021 West Regional and had a time of 22:22.4.
“Today was probably our best race of the season,” said USC’s top runner Maccagnini. “We were able to implement our race plan for the first 3K, we were all together, which is what we have been working on. I think the girls gave their absolute best effort and I’m really proud of how we did. I think we are looking good for indoor and outdoor track.”
The second Trojan to cross the finish line was graduate transfer Tracy Towns with PR of 21:46.1 to place 139th (138th in scoring). She, too, improved her standing at all four timing markers. Freshman standout Marjourie Lopez was third among the Trojans with a time of 21:48.0, good for 141st (139th in scoring). There was just…
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