Open Announce

Lobos Rank Second in USTFCCCA Week 1 Poll

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— While The University of New Mexico’s cross country season was postponed in August, it didn’t hinder the Lobos from being ranked among the best in the country in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) initial poll released on Tuesday.

Receiving 316 votes, the Lobo women ranked second in the initial NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, just seven points behind defending NCAA cross country champion Arkansas and an 11-point advantage over No. 3, and 2019 runner-up, BYU. The Razorbacks received eight first-place votes in the poll with the Cougars, No. 4 NC State and No. 5 Stanford each receiving one vote.

As there was not a preseason poll this season, it is the second-straight year that the Lobos have ranked second in the initial rankings and the sixth-consecutive year that the Lobos have been ranked in the top three in the week one poll. In the last six years, the Lobos have ranked first three times, second two times and third once at the week one mark.

Bolstering the Lobos’ standing at the top of the poll is the return of defending NCAA champion Weini Kelati, Adva Cohen, Gracelyn Larkin and Brenda Rosales Coria, and the added support of transfers Annamaria Kostarellis (Xavier) and Hannah Miller (SMU).

The Lobos were one of three Mountain West teams ranked in the poll, with Boise State coming in at 14 and Air Force at 23. Utah State was receiving votes with one vote.

UNM finished the 2019 season with a fourth-place result at the NCAA championship, tallying 168 points to mark their fifth time finishing in the top four, including three in the last four years, and their 10th consecutive time finishing in the top 10.

The next NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll will be released on Nov. 3.