Colorado State University Athletics
Rams’ men projected by league coaches to win Mountain West in 2017
8/30/2017 4:48:00 PM | Cross Country
CSU men top MW preseason poll; Rams’ women projected to finish fourth
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Colorado State men's cross country team has been selected as the favorite to win the 2017 Mountain West title by conference head coaches. Colorado State's women's team is projected to finish fourth in the 2017 MW Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released by the conference on Thursday.
The 18th-ranked CSU men received 46 points overall and five of eight possible first-place votes. The Rams' women earned 71 points en route to their fourth-place projection, behind only preseason No. 4 New Mexico (100 points, 10 first-place votes), No. 19 Boise State (89 points, one first-place vote) and No. 29 Air Force (81 points).
CSU was narrowly edged for the men's team title in 2016, placing second behind Boise State, 41-48. The Rams return three All-Mountain West performers from the meet, including 2016 runner-up and 2015 MW champion Jerrell Mock, as well as Grant Fischer and Cole Rockhold. Eric Hamer (15th place) and Carson Hume (16th place) took the next two positions outside of All-Mountain West honors (top 14), and also return for 2017. No Mountain West team returns as many top-16 finishers from the 2016 conference meet as CSU (five).
Returners on the women's side are highlighted by two-time NCAA Cross Country Championships participant Darby Gilfillan, who enters her senior season. The Rams' women also return three of their top four finishers at the 2016 conference meet, including Ali Kallner, McKenna Spillar and Kate White. Kallner was an All-Mountain West performer in cross country in 2015, while Spillar (10,000 meters) and Macy Kreutz (800 meters, 4x400-meter relay) enter the 2017 cross country season with All-Mountain West performances in track & field.
Earlier this week, CSU's men's team was ranked 18th nationally by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA), marking the team's top preseason ranking since 2002. CSU was ranked fifth in the Mountain Region on the men's side, and seventh regionally on the women's side. Additionally, FloTrack tabbed CSU's men as the No. 15 team in the nation leading up to the season.
The Colorado State cross country team is slated to open its 2017 season this Friday with its annual home meet, the CSU Duals. Friday meet is set to be held from the Hughes Stadium cross country course, and will begin at 4 p.m. MT with high school competition. The college women's 5k is set to begin at 6 p.m. MT, while the college men's 5k is slated for 6:30 p.m. MT. Information on the CSU Duals can be found here.
The 18th-ranked CSU men received 46 points overall and five of eight possible first-place votes. The Rams' women earned 71 points en route to their fourth-place projection, behind only preseason No. 4 New Mexico (100 points, 10 first-place votes), No. 19 Boise State (89 points, one first-place vote) and No. 29 Air Force (81 points).
CSU was narrowly edged for the men's team title in 2016, placing second behind Boise State, 41-48. The Rams return three All-Mountain West performers from the meet, including 2016 runner-up and 2015 MW champion Jerrell Mock, as well as Grant Fischer and Cole Rockhold. Eric Hamer (15th place) and Carson Hume (16th place) took the next two positions outside of All-Mountain West honors (top 14), and also return for 2017. No Mountain West team returns as many top-16 finishers from the 2016 conference meet as CSU (five).
Returners on the women's side are highlighted by two-time NCAA Cross Country Championships participant Darby Gilfillan, who enters her senior season. The Rams' women also return three of their top four finishers at the 2016 conference meet, including Ali Kallner, McKenna Spillar and Kate White. Kallner was an All-Mountain West performer in cross country in 2015, while Spillar (10,000 meters) and Macy Kreutz (800 meters, 4x400-meter relay) enter the 2017 cross country season with All-Mountain West performances in track & field.
Earlier this week, CSU's men's team was ranked 18th nationally by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA), marking the team's top preseason ranking since 2002. CSU was ranked fifth in the Mountain Region on the men's side, and seventh regionally on the women's side. Additionally, FloTrack tabbed CSU's men as the No. 15 team in the nation leading up to the season.
The Colorado State cross country team is slated to open its 2017 season this Friday with its annual home meet, the CSU Duals. Friday meet is set to be held from the Hughes Stadium cross country course, and will begin at 4 p.m. MT with high school competition. The college women's 5k is set to begin at 6 p.m. MT, while the college men's 5k is slated for 6:30 p.m. MT. Information on the CSU Duals can be found here.
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