SAN FRANCISCO — Stanford opens its cross-country season Friday at the USF Invitational at Hellman Hollow in Golden Gate Park.
The men’s 8-kilometer (4.97-mile) race begins at 2 p.m., followed by the women’s 6K (3.72-mile) at 3 p.m.
The USTFCCCA coaches’ preseason rankings were released this week and Stanford earned two top-10 national rankings.
The Cardinal women are No. 7 nationally and No. 3 in the West Region, and the men are No. 10 in the nation and No. 1 in the region. Both teams were picked to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Live stats and results can be found here.
The Stanford runners reported to campus on Sunday and had their first practices on Tuesday.
Stanford has opened its season at the USF Invitational nine times in the past 13 seasons, including the past three years. Stanford has produced either an individual or team winner in each of those nine meets.
Stanford junior Riley Stewart will attempt to win her third consecutive USF Invitational victory. Last year, Stewart and Sophia Kennedy placed 1-2 in the women’s race. Other Stanford women’s winners were Vanessa Fraser (2016) and Christina Aragon (2018). The Cardinal women earned team victories in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2023.
The Cardinal men earned team victories in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021, and 2022. Stanford men’s winners have been Brendan Gregg (2011) and Evan Burke (2021).
After the meet, the team travels to Longmont, Colorado, for two weeks of training before returning for the fall quarter, which begins on Sept. 23.
For the women, Pac-12 champion Amy Bunnage returns. She was Stanford’s top runner at the 2023 NCAA Championships, helping the Cardinal to 12th. Stanford returns four of seven from its NCAA lineup.
For the men, NCAA third-placer Ky Robinson has graduated, but cross country All-American Cole Sprout now leads the squad, which placed eighth at nationals last year. The Cardinal returns five from its NCAA lineup.
Stanford’s men and women are defending NCAA West Region champions. The Cardinal men also won the 2023 Pac-12 team title.
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