The West Regional meet will be brutal to qualify in the top two positions.  Luckily, most of the top teams have had great success this year.  

 The women are led by #1 ranked Arizona.  They should win the region and it will be a battle for the second automatic spot.  #12 Washington leads a group of four teams ranked between 12th and 18th.  Defending national champion Oregon is next at 15th, WCC champion San Francisco is ranked 17th and Stanford, with Pac-12 champion Aisling Cuffe, is 18th.  25th ranked Boise State and 26th ranked Arizona State are led by individual championship contenders,  Emma Bates and Shelby Houlihan, respectively.

#4 Oregon leads a strong group of west region teams.  Led by freshman Edward Cheserek, Pac-12 champion, the young Ducks will be challenged by moving to the 10k distance.  #6 Stanford, led by Pac-12 runner-up Jim Rosa, is a veteran team trying to overcome and motivated by the failures of last year’s highly rated team.   #10 Portland does better at the 10k distance and also has an experienced team.  #28 Arizona State and #29 Washington, led by Aaron Nelson, will fight for an upset to get a top two spot or work for an at-large spot.  #31 Boise State, led by former Iowa State coach Cory Ihmels, should be ready to run well at the West Region.