UNM Women Projected to Finish First in MW Preseason Poll
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— While the timing of the cross country season won’t take place in its usual fall schedule, some aspects remain the same as The University of New Mexico women’s program has been chosen to finish first in the MW preseason predicted order of finish released on Wednesday.
It’s the 10th consecutive year that the Lobo women were picked as the preseason favorite.
The Lobos received all nine first-place votes from the other conference coaches for 81 total points, finishing ahead of Boise State. The Broncos received the remaining first-place vote, finishing with 70 total points. Air Force followed closely behind with 67 points to round out the top three.
On the men’s side, the first-place votes were more split, with Colorado State and Boise State each receiving three and Air Force and Utah State each receiving one vote. There were just five votes separating first through third in the conference predicted order with the Rams edging out the Broncos 43 to 40 for the top spot. Air Force earned 38 points to place third and Utah State was just two points behind the Falcons for fourth.
UNM men were picked to finish sixth after receiving 20 points, finishing ahead of Nevada (12) and Fresno State (8) in the total poll points.
At the 2019 MW Championships, the men finished sixth with 111 points with Utah State winning the team title followed by Colorado State.
The Lobo women enter the cross country season having won the last 12 conference championships and producing the last four individual conference winners.
In 2019, the Lobos outran runner-up Air Force to take the team title, scoring 31 points to 54 points. The Lobos placed three finishers in the top five, including the winner and runner-up in Weini Kelati and Ednah Kurgat, and placed four runners in the top 10 and all five scorers in the top 13.
The MW Championships are set to take place March 5 in Las Vegas, Nev. this year.