MW Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico cross country teams ranked first (women) and sixth (men) in the 2018 MW Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Midseason Coaches Poll released by the conference on Monday afternoon.
The Lady Lobos received nine of 11 first-place votes for a total of 99 points to earn the top-spot in the poll, edging out Boise State by seven points. The Broncos received the other two first-place votes as voted on by the conference member’s head coaches. There was a 12 vote difference between second and third, with Utah State picked third with 80 votes.
Last season, the women earned the midseason poll top spot on their way to their 10th consecutive MW cross country title, and have garnered the No. 1 ranking in each of the last six years.
There wasn’t much change in the top of the order from the preseason poll released Aug. 23, which had the Lobos and Broncos first and second, respectively, with the same point total and number of first-place votes. Utah State picked up two additional points in the midseason poll, but still remained third.
For the men, the poll was much closer, with UNM picked sixth in the Mountain West after collecting 21 votes. Colorado State was picked as the Mountain West favorite with 46 points, but the top three teams all received at least one first-place vote and was only separated by eight points. Only one point behind the Rams were the Boise State Broncos, receiving three of the eight first-place votes. Air Force received the final first-place vote and tallied 38 votes.
The Lobos dropped a point from the preseason poll and fell one ranking from their tie for fifth with Wyoming.
The cross country team returns to the course on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, held at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wis.
2018 MOUNTAIN WEST WOMEN’S MIDSEASON CROSS COUNTRY POLL
School Points (first place votes)
1. New Mexico 99 (9)
2. Boise State 92 (2)
3. Utah State 80
4. Nevada 63
T5. Air Force 60
T5. Colorado State 60
7. San José State 52
8. Wyoming 41
9. UNLV 22
T10. Fresno State 18
T10. San Diego State 18
2018 MOUNTAIN WEST MEN’S MIDSEASON CROSS COUNTRY POLL
School Points (first place votes)
1. Colorado State 46 (4)
2. Boise State 45 (3)
3. Air Force 38 (1)
4. Utah State 29
5. Wyoming 25
6. New Mexico 21
7. San José State 13
8. Fresno State 7