ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico women’s cross country team held the top spot in the USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Poll released on Monday afternoon, the final rankings before the 2018 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
Monday’s poll marks the sixth poll out of eight this season that the Lobos have been ranked first in the country. The last time that the Lobos were ranked first in as many polls was in 2015, when the team was ranked first for seven consecutive polls as well as in the final poll, in which the Lobos won their first national championship.
UNM received 324 points and nine first-place votes in the latest poll, earning five more points and three more first-place votes than in week six.
Oregon remained at the No. 2 spot with 312 points after winning the West Regional, but received one less first-place vote this week. Boise State and Colorado tied for the third ranking, each collecting 303 points, however, Colorado maintained its one first-place vote whereas Boise State lost its two previous first-place votes. Arkansas had no movement in ranking or in points from last week, still receiving 288 votes for fifth in the country.
Michigan (267 points) and Stanford (263 points) switched places in the ranking, at sixth and seventh, respectively. Villanova (252 points) and BYU (237 points) remained at eighth and ninth, respectively, but Wisconsin moved up one spot in week seven with 235 points to round out the top 10.
The Lobos enter the NCAA Championships ranked first for just the second time in school history, with the other time being in 2015. Last season, the team ranked second in the poll released before the championship behind Colorado.
Going into the championship, the Lobos have won their last three races, with Weini Kelati and Ednah Kurgat finishing first and second, respectively, to lead to the team titles. In their last race at the NCAA Mountain Regional, the Lobos placed all five scorers in the top 15 and six runners earned all-region. Earning all-region were Adva Cohen, Sophie Eckel, Kelati, Kurgat, Emily Martin and Charlotte Prouse.
The NCAA Championship will take place this Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wis., with the women’s start time at 9:45 a.m. MT. FloTrack will be streaming the race, although to view it will require a subscription.