2009 West Coast Conference Champions

Head Coach: Helen Lehman-Winters
All-WCC Tournament Team: Nicole Bowler, Hillary Kigar, Eva Krchova, Heather Zytkewicz
WCC Tournament Results:

1. 45 SAN FRANCISCO (21:51 109:13)
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4 Hillary Kigar SO 21:22
5 Heather Zytkewicz FR 21:34
6  Nicole Bowler JR 21:42
10 Eva Krchova FR 21:58
20 Alice Baker FR 22:37

2. 52 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT (22:01 110:01)
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2 Sheree Shea FR 21:11
11 Cassandra Salazar SO 22:03
12 Brieanna Delaney SO 22:09
13 Cynthia Chaidez JR 22:18
14 Brooke Lademan SR 22:20

The San Francisco women's cross country won their first ever West Coast Conference team championship at Belmont's Crystal Springs cross country course. With the team win, head coach Helen Lehman-Winters earned her second WCC women's Coach of the Year honor.

The Dons women won the championship after four of the five scoring runners finished in the top-10. Sophomore Hillary Kigar finished first for USF, coming in fourth overall in 21:22. Freshman Heather Zytkewicz followed in fifth with a time of 21:34, and junior Nicole Bowler came in sixth in 21:42. Freshman Eva Krchova finished 10th in 21:58. All four runners earned West Coast Conference First Team honors for finishing in the top-10. Rounding out the Dons scoring five was freshman Alice Baker, who finished 20th in 22:37. Freshman Sophie Curl came in 43rd with a time of 22:37, and freshman Hayley Niles finished 46th in 23:46.

Following behind USF (45) was Loyola Marymount (52) in second and Portland (64) in third. Santa Clara's Stephanie Wilson was the overall individual champion with a time of 23:12, tying the course record. Lehman-Winter's WCC women's Coach of the Year award is her second. Her first came in 2004. Lehman-Winter's also won the WCC men's Coach of the Year award in 2005.

Did You Know? Junior Nicole Bowler and sophomore Hilary Kigar were named on the West Coast Conference Fall All-Academic Team for 2009. Bowler, who earned her second consecutive honor, did so with a 3.32 G.P.A in History. Kigar, finished the fall semester with a 3.65 G.P.A. in Business Hospitality. The WCC Fall All-Academic teams honor some of the league's finest examples of the consummate scholar-athlete. At the completion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each of the participating sponsored sports. To be considered, a student-athlete must earn at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, while also being a significant contributor to his or her team.

They Said It: "I am so proud of our women's team," said Head Coach Helen Lehman-Winters. "Hillary Kigar was 32nd in this meet last year and she was very tough for us out front today. Both Heather Zytkewicz and Alice Baker turned in clutch performances as well. This is a young team and how they handled this tough conference course was impressive. We have an even better team in store for the regional meet."