COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The University of New Mexico men’s and women’s cross-country teams were selected as the favorites to win their respective 2014 Mountain West cross-country titles as voted by the league’s coaches in the pre-championship coaches’ poll.
The vote, released Wednesday, has the No. 10 New Mexico women and No. 18 UNM men extending their streak of five straight sweeps of the MW cross-country championships. The women have won six consecutive conference titles, while the men have won five years in a row.
In the men’s poll, the Lobos received seven first-place votes and 49 total points, followed by No. 25 Colorado State, who collected the other first-place vote and 43 points. Boise State placed third with 37 points, followed by Wyoming (26 points), Air Force (25 points), Utah State (20 points), San José State (11 points) and Fresno State (10 points).
On the women’s side, New Mexico tallied 10 first-place votes for a total of 100 points to capture the top spot. Boise State claimed one first-place vote and 90 points to claim second place. Wyoming is third with 80 points, followed by Colorado State in fourth with 73 points and Utah State in fifth with 58 points. Air Force (54 points), Nevada (44 points), Fresno State (43 points), San Diego State (25 points), San José State (23 points) and UNLV (15 points) round out the women’s results.
The 2014 Mountain West Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Fresno State University at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 31. The women’s 6-kilometer race begins at 11 a.m. MT, followed by the men’s 8-kilometer race at 11:45 a.m. MT. Both races can be viewed live on the Mountain West Network.
| 2014 MOUNTAIN WEST PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY COACHES’ POLL | ||
| Pl. | Team (1st place votes) | Points |
| 1. | New Mexico (7) | 49 |
| 2. | Colorado State (1) | 43 |
| 3. | Boise State | 37 |
| 4. | Wyoming | 26 |
| 5. | Air Force | 25 |
| 6. | Utah State | 20 |
| 7. | San José State | 11 |
| 8. | Fresno State | 10 |
| 2014 MOUNTAIN WEST PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY COACHES’ POLL | ||
| Pl. | Team (1st place votes) | Points |
| 1. | New Mexico (10) | 100 |
| 2. | Boise State (1) | 90 |
| 3. | Wyoming | 80 |
| 4. | Colorado State | 73 |
| 5. | Utah State | 58 |
| 6. | Air Force | 54 |
| 7. | Nevada | 44 |
| 8. | Fresno State | 43 |
| 9. | San Diego State | 25 |
| 10. | San José State | 23 |
| 11. | UNLV | 15 |