ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Two days before the Mountain West Cross Country Championships are to be held in Logan, Utah, the conference coaches have spoken on how they envision the races shaping up.
And if the coaches prove to be correct, the New Mexico women will be celebrating their 12th consecutive conference title, having received six first-place votes and a total of 96 points to take the top ranking.
Just like the narrow finish of the 2018 conference championship indicates the competitiveness between the two teams, Boise State followed closely behind in the poll with four first-place votes and 92 points.
The proximity of the two teams is also reflected in the national rankings, with UNM tied for 11th and Boise State ranked 13th with 211 and 191 points, respectively.
In addition, it is the closest margin between the two teams this season as the Lobos previously picked up 10 first-place votes and 100 points in both the preseason and midseason polls with the Broncos earning 90 points in the preseason poll and 91 in the midseason poll.
Although Air Force maintained its third position in the poll, the Falcons garnered one first-place vote and received 82 points in the latest ranking, the highest point total Air Force has tallied this season.
From there, Utah State ranked fourth with 71 points, Colorado State was fifth with 65 points, Wyoming sixth at 51 points, San José State came in seventh with 48 points, Nevada was eighth at 41 points, San Diego State was ninth at 24 points, UNLV was 10th with 20 points and Fresno State 11th with 15 points.
On the men’s side, UNM remained sixth in the poll with 29 points. In each of the last two polls, the Lobo men earned 29 points in the preseason and 30 in the midseason poll.
In another close ranking, Boise State edged out Utah State for the first-place spot, with five first-place votes and 61 points for the Broncos compared to four first-place votes and 57 points for the Aggies. Wyoming finished just 0.5 points ahead of Air Force for the third spot at 46.5 points and Colorado State rounded out the top five with 39.5 points.
After the Lobos were San José State with 22 points, Fresno State with 12 points and Nevada with 11 points.
The poll standings for the Lobos is on par for the finish of the two teams at the 2018 MW Championships in which the men finished sixth and the women finished first.
Men’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (5) 61
2. Utah State (4) 57
3. Wyoming 46.5
4. Air Force 46
5. Colorado State 39.5
6. New Mexico 29
7. San José State 22
8. Fresno State 12
9. Nevada 11
Women’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. New Mexico (6) 96
2. Boise State (4) 92
3. Air Force (1) 82
4. Utah State 71
5. Colorado State 65
6. Wyoming 51
7. San José State 48
8. Nevada 41
9. San Diego State 24
10. UNLV 20
11. Fresno State 15