Women's Cross Country Climbs to 3rd in USTFCCCA Poll
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s cross country team climbed to No. 3 in the first regular-season National Coaches Poll, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Tuesday.
The Lobos, who have placed top-10 at the NCAA Championships each of the last seven years for the nation’s longest active streak, earned one first-place vote and swapped places with No. 4 Michigan after registering a win at the Lobo Invitational on September 2.
This is the 41st consecutive poll in which the UNM women were ranked or receiving votes.
“It’s still preseason for us, but this shows what the coaches in the country think about the potential of the team,” 11th-year head coach Joe Franklin said.
Two weeks ago at their season-opening Lobo Invitational, the New Mexico women stormed to the team title, with all five scorers placing in the top 12. Elizabeth Weiler (third overall) led the way, along with Sarah Laverty (fourth), Sophie Eckel (seventh), Kieran Casey (ninth) and Kendall Kelly (fifth).
UNM has also still yet to run a handful of its top runners, including three-time All-American Alice Wright, Natasha Bernal, Alex Buck, Weini Kelati, Alondra Negrón Texidor, Charlotte Prouse and Ednah Kurgat.
Colorado remained in the top spot in the poll, with eight first-place votes and 356 points overall. 2016 NCAA team champion Oregon is ranked second with three first-place votes and 341 points.
The Lobos received 323 points, with No. 4 Michigan (326 points) and No. 5 Stanford (310) rounding out the top five.
New Mexico’s No. 3 ranking is the team’s best since a No. 2 ranking in the third regular-season poll of 2016. Since the start of the 2015 season, the Lobo women have been ranked top-three in 13 of 18 polls.
Additionally, the women were ranked second in the women’s USTFCCCA Mountain Region’s preseason rankings that were released Monday.
The Lobos return to action in two weeks as they head to Notre Dame, Indiana, for the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboXCTF on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!