The coaches are expecting Stanislaus State to pull off the three-peat in 2023. The Warriors earned seven first-place votes and 117 points to top the 2023 CCAA Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Chico State finished second with three first-place votes and 111 points. Cal Poly Pomona collected the final first-place vote, finishing third with 97 points. Cal State East Bay (82) and Cal State San Marcos (78) completed the top 5.

 

2023 Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Stanislaus State (7)	117
Chico State (3)	111
Cal Poly Pomona (1)	97
Cal State East Bay	82
Cal State San Marcos	78
Cal Poly Humboldt	61
Cal State San Bernardino	48
Sonoma State	47
Cal State Monterey Bay	45
San Francisco State	28
Cal State LA	12
first-place votes in paranthesis

Stanislaus State is the defending CCAA and NCAA West Region Champions. The Warriors bring back three runners who have national championship meet experience. Bela Moreno, Kayden Legan, and Yahaira Zuniga competed in the three postseason races, helping Stan State hoist two trophies along the way. Legan and Zuniga each landed on the CCAA Preseason Watchlist after placing in the top 15 at the 2022 Championships. Stan State roster
 
Four of the seven spots on the watchlist went to Chico State runners, but the Wildcats' talent extends throughout the roster. They will return eight student-athletes to a team that occupied nine of the top 19 spots in the conference championships, including watchlist members Jaclyn Denham, Gracie Dupuis, Iresh Molina, and Hannah Tiffany. Chico just missed capturing the 2022 NCAA West Regional Championship as they were edged out by two points by Stan State (91-93). The Wildcats then took 12th at the national championships. Chico State roster
 
Cal Poly Pomona is expected to move up one spot in their finish at the CCAA Championships after receiving 97 points in the poll. CPP closed out its season with momentum, surprising the field at the regional with a fourth-place finish to just miss out on an invitation to nationals. The Broncos will return five of the seven runners from that regional team. Cal Poly Pomona roster
 
Cal State East Bay has finished in the top 4 in each of the past three CCAA Championships, and they are expected to be right back among the leaders after receiving 82 points in the poll. Kimberly Lima Pardina and Alyssa Escay are the top returning runners for the Pioneers, who placed eighth at the regional. Cal State East Bay roster
 
Cal State San Marcos finished just behind CSUEB with 78 points. The Cougars placed fifth at the 2022 conference championships. Their top seven runners were all undergrads, and their five scoring runners placed in the top 40. Cal State San Marcos roster
 
Cal Poly Humboldt collected 61 points to place sixth in the poll. The Lumberjacks will bring back six letterwinners as they look for their first top 3 conference finish since 2014. Cal Poly Humboldt roster
 
It was a very close vote for seventh place, with three teams finishing within three points. Cal State San Bernardino claimed the No. 7 spot with 48 points, followed by Sonoma State (47) and Cal State Monterey Bay (45). The Yotes will return nine student-athletes, the Seawolves four, and the Otters 11. Cal State San Bernardino roster | Sonoma State roster | Cal State Monterey Bay roster
 
San Francisco State (28) and Cal State LA (12) completed the poll. San Francisco State roster | Cal State LA roster
 
The CCAA is again expected to be the best women's cross country conference in the West Region. Four CCAA teams were listed in the top 10 on the USTFCCCA/Division II rankings, released earlier this week. Stanislaus State leads the way, one place ahead of Chico State. Cal Poly Pomona was voted No. 5, and Cal State East Bay earned the ninth spot. Click here to see the complete USTFCCCA regional rankings.
 
The USFTCCCA released its national rankings earlier today, and two CCAA teams were listed among the nation's elite. Stanislaus State is ranked No. 9, followed by Chico State at No. 13. Cal Poly Pomona is listed among the teams 'receiving votes.' Click here for the complete USTFCCCA preseason poll.
 
Teams will open their 2023 season this weekend at various meets throughout the state. Cal State Monterey Bay and Stanislaus State will begin their seasons on Friday. Four other teams will start on Saturday, including Sonoma State, which hosts the Seawolf Invite in Fresno. Click here to see a listing of the 2023 CCAA Cross Country schedule.
 
All 11 teams will come together to compete for the 2023 CCAA Cross Country Championships, hosted by Cal State East Bay, on Oct. 21 at the Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont, Calif. This will be the first meet of the postseason with NCAA West Regionals following two weeks later (Nov. 4) in Monmouth, Ore.

 

CCAA Preseason Watchlist (returning All-CCAA selections)
Gianna Bomarito	Sonoma St.
Jaclyn Denham	Chico State
Gracie Dupuis	Chico State
Kayden Legan	Stanislaus State
Iresh Molina	Chico State
Hannah Tiffany	Chico State
Yahaira Zuniga	Stanislaus State