ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s cross country team opened the 2015 season ranked second in the preseason National Coaches Poll, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Tuesday.
The Lobos, who received eight of a possible 12 first-place votes in the poll, have tied the program’s highest ranking in the national polls. The New Mexico women also opened the 2011 season ranked second.
Additionally, the Lobo women have been ranked or receiving votes in the USTFCCCA preseason poll for the eighth straight years.
“We know the women’s team is potentially a very deep group,” New Mexico head coach Joe Franklin said. “The goal is always to be a top-10 team in the preseason rankings and we’re continuing that.”
The women, who placed third as a team at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, return Alice Wright and Calli Thackery, both of whom placed top-50 at the NCAAs, and Heleene Tambet, a top-100 finisher at the NCAAs.
UNM also adds UMKC transfer Courtney Frerichs, Harvard transfers Molly Renfer and Whitney Thornburg and Rhona Auckland from Scotland.
Only Iowa State (with two first-place votes) ranks above the UNM women with 335 total points to the Lobos’ 327.
The Lobo women also claimed the top spot in the women’s version of the USTFCCCA Mountain Region’s preseason rankings released Monday.
New Mexico’s men’s squad was also slotted in the national poll, ranked 21st. This makes UNM one of 15 Division I institutions with both their men and women teams ranked in the top 25.