Pac-12 cross country championships Friday at Chambers Creek Park in University Place...

The Pac-12 cross country championship meet heads to the shores of Puget Sound, as Chambers Creek Park in University Place, south of Tacoma, is the venue for one of the country's top collegiate conference title races Friday.

Both Washington squads are ranked in the latest USTFCCCA polls, with the men ranked at number eight, and the women at number 12.

In both races, the Huskies will face three nationally ranked teams. The women's race features number 5 Stanford, number 6 Colorado, and number 24 Oregon State, while the men's race includes number 4 Stanford, number 9 Colorado, and number 12 Oregon.

Based on the rankings, both Stanford squads are slight favorites to win it, though they will be challenged on both sides by Colorado and Washington, with the Oregon men's team the wild card, as they did not run their top runners in either of their two regular season meets, including last year's runner-up Cooper Teare. 

That said, Teare is currently the fastest miler indoors in the world this season, having run 3:50.39 at the University of Arkansas, and has the fastest indoor time in the 3000 at 7:46.10.

Stanford's women has a 1-2 punch, led by the 2019 runner-up Ella Donaghu, and freshman Zofia Dudek, a former Foot Locker national champion.

Washington's best shot at an individual crown on the men's side lies in the hands of 2018 Pac-12 runner-up Talon Hull, while Melany Smart, the 2019 Pac-12 freshman of the year and a 2019 cross country All-American, has the best shot at the conference title. 

Washington State's Colton Johnsen, who has raced impressively this indoor season, and is qualified for the NCAA indoor championship in both the 3000 and 5000, is perhaps the Cougars' best hope for an individual title, though he hasn't run a cross country race so far this season, opting to concentrate indoors.

The women's 6k races kicks off the day at 11:10 am, followed by the men's 8k race an hour later. Due to COVID-19 protocols, no spectators are allowed at Chambers Creek Park. However, the Pac-12 Network will provide live coverage of both races, starting at 11:00 am, pacific time. 

A link to live results is available here.

NOTE: The Pac-12 Conference contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support our sponsors by clicking on the links.