Lobo Women Selected MW Preseason Favorite, Men Sixth

MW RELEASE | CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico women’s cross country team enters the 2019 season ranked as the Mountain West preseason favorite as voted on by the conference coaches, as announced by the conference office on Thursday.

Earning 10 first-place votes and 100 points, the Lobos finished 10 points ahead of Boise State, with the Broncos picking up the remaining first-place vote.

Air Force rounded out the top three with 77 points, followed by Utah State with 67 points for a fourth-place projection. From there, the remaining placement was Colorado State (fifth, 63 points), Nevada (sixth, 61 points), San José State (seventh, 46 points), Wyoming (eighth, 38 points), Fresno State (ninth, 25 points), San Diego State (10th, 20 points) and UNLV (11th, 18 points).

It’s the ninth straight year that the Lobo women were picked as the preseason favorite.

The Lobo women are coming off of a NCAA runner-up finish and their 11th-straight MW title as well as the NCAA Mountain Region title, their first since 2010. In 2018, Kelati was named Mountain West Student-Athlete of the Year and Head Coach Joe Franklin was named the Women’s Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the MW Championships.

UNM boasts some of the nation’s best runners in Weini Kelati and Ednah Kurgat, both of which who were named All-Americans last season with a runner-up and fifth-place finish, respectively, as well as an NCAA scorer in Adva Cohen, who just finished out of All-American contention.

The men’s team was picked to finish sixth with 29 points, finishing ahead of San José State (22 points), Nevada (13 points) and Fresno State (11 points). Boise State topped the preseason poll on the men’s side with 61 points and six first-place votes with Wyoming receiving two first-place votes to finish slightly behind in second at 54 points. Air Force received the remaining first-place vote to be placed fourth with 46 points, finishing one point behind Colorado State.  Utah State rounded out the top five with 41 points.

Leading the men is the 2018 Mountain West Freshman of the Year in Reece Donihi, as well as redshirt senior Jared Garcia. The team will also rely on contributions from Kristian Uldbjerg-Hansen and Max Wharton as scorers going in to the season.

In comparison, last season the Lobo men were picked tied for fifth with Wyoming with 22 points.

UNM opens the cross country season on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Lobo Invitational to be held at the UNM North Golf Course. There will be a community fun run at 7:45 a.m. to start the events and will end with the collegiate men’s and women’s race at 9:35 a.m.

Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll                                       

Team                                      Points

1. New Mexico     (10)         100

2. Boise State (1)                 90

3. Air Force                           77

4. Utah State                         67

5. Colorado State                 63

6. Nevada                              61

7. San José State                 46

8. Wyoming                           38                                          

9. Fresno State                     25                                          

10. San Diego State             20                                          

11. UNLV                                18

Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll                             

Team                                      Points

1. Boise State (6)                 61

2. Wyoming (2)                    54

3. Colorado State                 47

4. Air Force (1)                     46

5. Utah State                         41

6. New Mexico                     29

7. San José State                  22

8. Nevada                              13

9. Fresno State                     11