New Mexico Cross Country enters the 2026 season as the favorites to win both the men’s and women’s team titles in the Mountain West for the third straight year after being voted No. 1 in the conference preseason coaches’ polls, the league announced Wednesday.
In the men’s poll, UNM earned 49 points with seven first-place votes, while the women earned 81 points with nine first-place votes.
It’s a @UNMLoboXCTF Lobo sweep! Both the men’s and women’s teams have been selected as the preseason favorites to capture the 2026 Mountain West cross country titles, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.@KarliePDrew with the complete #MWXC preseason polls.#BuiltBold pic.twitter.com/r3JXZuhBmW
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) August 26, 2026
After both the Lobo men and women finished on the team podium at NCAA XC Championships in 2025, both teams return the bulk of their production for another go-round in 2026 with the exception of 2025 NCAA Champion Habtom Samuel, who went pro over the offseason. Last season, UNM swept not only the Mountain West team and individual races but also finished first in both men’s and women’s standings at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships, going on to finish second for men and fourth for women in the national team standings in Columbia, Mo.
UNM has won three MW men’s team titles in a row and 17 of the last 18 women’s team titles – the Lobos have now won either a Mountain West women’s and/or men’s title in cross country in 18 consecutive seasons, with 26 team championships in that span in total.
This year’s MW Cross Country Championships will take place on Oct. 30, hosted by Nevada in Reno, Nev.
New Mexico Cross Country opens the 2026 season at home next weekend at the Lobo XC Invitational on Sept. 5, hosted at the UNM North Course. Follow @UNMLoboXCTF on IG and X for raceday updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.
|
2026 MW Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll |
|
|
Rk. Team |
Points |
|
1. New Mexico (7) |
49 |
|
2. Air Force (1) |
43 |
|
3. Wyoming |
37 |
|
4. Grand Canyon |
27 |
|
5. Nevada |
26 |
|
6. UC Davis |
19 |
|
7. UTEP |
14 |
|
8. San José State |
9 |
|
2026 MW Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll |
|
|
Rk. Team |
Points |
|
1. New Mexico (9) |
81 |
|
2. Air Force (1) |
70 |
|
3. Wyoming |
66 |
|
T4. Nevada |
43 |
|
T4. UC Davis |
43 |
|
T4. Hawai'i |
43 |
|
7. Grand Canyon |
42 |
|
8. UTEP |
34 |
|
9. UNLV |
17 |
|
10. San José State |
11 |