Open Announce

Women’s Cross Country Picked First in Preseason MW Poll

by Frank Mercogliano

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The 13-time Mountain West Champion Lobo women’s cross country team was again picked to repeat as the Mountain West announced the 2021 preseason polls.

The Lobos picked up 98 points and nine first place votes in the poll of the league’s coaches.  Boise State was picked second with 91 points, grabbing the other two first place votes.  Additionally, the Lobo men’s squad was selected fifth in the poll, picking up one of the nine first place votes.

The Lobo women have won 13 straight Mountain West titles, and UNM finished sixth at NCAAs last year, extending its streak of top-10 national finishes to 11 consecutive years.

“For our peers in the conference to think that of us is amazing,” said head coach Joe Franklin. “We have some incredible women’s distance teams in the Mountain West and for them to think that we are on top is humbling.”

The Lobos return the entire 2020 squad that competed at the Mountain West and NCAA Championships.

Men’s Poll

1. Air Force (5) 61
2. Utah State (3) 56
3. Boise State 48
4. Colorado State 45
5. New Mexico (1) 38
6. Wyoming 31
7. Nevada 19
8. Fresno State 17
9. San Jose State 9

Women’s Poll

1. New Mexico (9) 98
2. Boise State (2) 91
3. Colorado State 78
4. Utah State 71
5. Air Force 70
6. Wyoming 52
7. Nevada 48
8. Fresno State 37
9. San Diego State 28
10 San Jose State 20
11. UNLV 12
  1. New Mexico (9)                      98
  2. Boise State (2)                      91
  3. Colorado State                       78
  4. Utah State                             71
  5. Air Force                               70
  6. Wyoming                               52
  7. Nevada                                 48
  8. Fresno State                          37
  9. San Diego State                     28
  10. San José State                     20
  11. UNLV                                  12