2017 Pac-12 XC ChampionshipsOct 27, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
Stanford Breaks Colorado's Pac-12 Championship Winning Streak
Stanford Breaks Colorado's Pac-12 Championship Winning Streak
For the first time in seven years, a team other than Colorado won the men's race at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships. The team to finally break the Buffaloes' streak was Stanford.
For the first time in seven years, a team other than Colorado won the men's race at the Pac-12 cross country championships. The team to finally break the Buffaloes' streak was Stanford.
Led by a stunning kick from NCAA 5K champion Grant Fisher, the No. 5-ranked Cardinal earned the individual and team crown at the conference championship Friday in Springfield, Oregon.
"This year we have a really young team, they competed so well today, and I'm so proud of them," Fisher told Lewis Johnson of the Pac-12 Network.
Stanford accomplished the feat by putting five runners within the top 18 spots for a total score of 41 points, six fewer than No. 6 Colorado. Fisher out-kicked Colorado All-American Joe Klecker for a winning time of 23:44 over the 8K course.
"My race plan was to be the most relaxed guy in the field until 2K to go . . . I trusted that I had another gear at the end," Fisher said.
His teammates followed the momentum by passing key competitors in the final critical moments. Steven Fahy moved up three spots and finished third, Alex Ostberg was close behind in fourth, Tai Dinger passed seven men to cross in 15th, and Callum Bolger moved up five spots to claim 18th overall.
Behind Stanford and Colorado, the No. 16 UCLA Bruins pulled off another upset by beating No. 7 Oregon. Led by a sixth-place finish from Robert Brandt, the Bruins earned 103 points to finish third while Oregon scored 109 points to claim fourth-place.
Led by a stunning kick from NCAA 5K champion Grant Fisher, the No. 5-ranked Cardinal earned the individual and team crown at the conference championship Friday in Springfield, Oregon.
WHAT A FINISH. Stanford's Grant Fisher takes the men's #Pac12XC 8K title!
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 27, 2017
Watch now for the team results: https://t.co/ZLABag9Ytt pic.twitter.com/9hq1BOBmjh
"This year we have a really young team, they competed so well today, and I'm so proud of them," Fisher told Lewis Johnson of the Pac-12 Network.
Stanford accomplished the feat by putting five runners within the top 18 spots for a total score of 41 points, six fewer than No. 6 Colorado. Fisher out-kicked Colorado All-American Joe Klecker for a winning time of 23:44 over the 8K course.
"My race plan was to be the most relaxed guy in the field until 2K to go . . . I trusted that I had another gear at the end," Fisher said.
His teammates followed the momentum by passing key competitors in the final critical moments. Steven Fahy moved up three spots and finished third, Alex Ostberg was close behind in fourth, Tai Dinger passed seven men to cross in 15th, and Callum Bolger moved up five spots to claim 18th overall.
Your 2017 #Pac12XC Champions! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/6wIJk5yfNM
— StanfordXCTF (@StanfordXCTF) October 27, 2017
Behind Stanford and Colorado, the No. 16 UCLA Bruins pulled off another upset by beating No. 7 Oregon. Led by a sixth-place finish from Robert Brandt, the Bruins earned 103 points to finish third while Oregon scored 109 points to claim fourth-place.