COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The University of New Mexico men’s and women’s cross country teams claimed the top spots in the Mountain West midseason coaches’ polls released Wednesday morning.
The vote has the preseason coaches’ favorites keeping hold of the top honors in the conference, with the No. 1 women’s team and the men’s team claiming the top spots in their respective polls.
The women’s squad, under ninth-year head coach Joe Franklin, has won seven consecutive MW titles, while the men have won six years in a row.
In the women’s poll, New Mexico tallied 10 first-place votes for a total of 100 points to earn the top spot. No. 6 Boise State collected the other first-place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own teams) and 91 points to claim second place.
Colorado State earned 77 points for third, followed by Wyoming with 71 points and Air Force with 58 points. Nevada (57 points), Utah State (54), Fresno State (30), San José State (27), San Diego State (20), and UNLV (20) placed sixth through 11th, respectively.
On the men’s side, New Mexico just edged Colorado State with 47 total points to the Rams’ 44. UNM earned five of the eight first-place votes, while CSU claimed the other three.
Boise State collected 35 points for third, with Air Force (33 points) and Wyoming (24) rounding out the top five. Utah State (sixth, 19), San José State (seventh, 13) and Fresno State (eighth, 9) were the final three teams in the men’s poll.
The 2015 Mountain West Cross Country Championships will be hosted by the University of Nevada at Montrêux Golf Club in Reno, Nevada on Friday, Oct. 30.
But up next for the Lobos is Wisconsin adidas Invitational next Friday, Oct. 16, in Madison, Wis.