Women Ranked First in Cross Country MW Pre-Championship Poll, Men Ranked Sixth

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Just days before New Mexico hosts the 2021 Mountain West Cross Country Championships, the conference released the coaches’ poll on Tuesday afternoon.

The Lobos’ women’s team was ranked first by coaches across the conference, receiving 10 out of 11 first-place votes and 100 points total. The women are currently ranked first in the nation by the USTFCCCA after winning the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Oct. 15 in their last meet before the championships.

On the women’s side, Colorado State received one vote and 90 points for a second place ranking, followed by third place Utah State with 81 points. Boise State ranked fourth with 75 points and Air Force rounded out the top-5 with 63 points. Wyoming ranked sixth with 51 points and Nevada placed seventh with 43 points. San Diego State had 36 points for eighth place, while Fresno State trailed closely behind with 32 points for a ninth place finish. UNLV rounded out the top-10 with 20 points, and San Jose State closed out the poll with 14 points for 11th.

The Lobos’ men’s team ranked sixth in the poll out of nine teams with 27 total points. Air Force took the top spot with eight first place votes and 64 points total. Colorado State came in second with 53 points, while Utah State trailed closely behind with 52 points and a first-place vote for third place. Boise State ranked fourth with 45 points and Wyoming placed fifth with 34 points. Nevada closely trails New Mexico with 23 points for a seventh place spot. Fresno State ranked eighth with 18 points and San Jose State rounded out the list with 18 points for eighth place.

The Lobos are set to host the Mountain West Cross Country Championships on Friday at the UNM North Golf Course. The men’s race is set for 10:15 a.m. (MT) and the women’s race follows at 11 a.m.

Women’s Cross Country Pre-Championships Poll

Team (First-Place Votes)            Points

1. New Mexico (10)                        100
2. Colorado State (1)                     90
3. Utah State                                    81
4. Boise State                                   75
5. Air Force                                       63
6. Wyoming                                      51
7. Nevada                                        43
8. San Diego State                          36
9. Fresno State                                32
10. UNLV                                             20
11. San José State                            14

Men’s Cross Country Pre-Championships Poll

Team (First-Place Votes)              Points

1. Air Force (8)                                   64
2. Colorado State                              53
3. Utah State (1)                               52
4. Boise State                                     45
5. Wyoming                                        34
6. New Mexico                                  27
7. Nevada                                           23
8. Fresno State                                  18
9. San José State                               8