Colorado State University Athletics
Mountain West Cross Country Preseason Poll Released
8/25/2021 12:39:00 PM | Cross Country
Colorado State Women Picked Third, Men Fourth
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Expectations from the Mountain West have been set via the head coaches' preseason poll, which has the Colorado State cross country teams near the top with the women picked third and the men fourth, announced Wednesday by the league office.Â
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The men's poll is identical to the results from the spring 2021 championship with the addition of San Jose State, who didn't compete, at the end. The women's poll can say the same thing for 1-thru-7, while also welcoming back Fresno State and San Jose State to competition.
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On the women's side, New Mexico is the preseason conference favorite after garnering 98 points and nine first-place votes. Boise State (2 first-place votes) and the Rams follow with 91 and 78 points, respectively. Colorado State is coming off its most successful season for the ladies, advancing to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2007. With no NCAA Mountain Regional, the Rams earned an at-large bid after finishing third in the conference meet for their best placement since 2013. It also helped that the two teams, UNM and BS, that finished above the Rams ranked inside of USTFCCCA's top-10 nationally.
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The ladies return all 10 runners that competed in this spring's MW conference meet, including All-Mountain West recipients Lily Tomasula-Martin and Lauren Offerman. In all, there are 20 returners on the women's roster and two newcomers – freshman Kealan McNally and sophomore transfer Anna Petr from Wisconsin.
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The men fell short of expectations last year of winning the title and wound up in fourth, which is the position they are projected going into this season. Six Rams remain from the 2019 conference roster that took second at conference and prior to last spring's fourth-place finish, the men finished in the top-3 of the Mountain West for eight-straight seasons, dating back to 2011.
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The entirety of the men's roster returned of 18 student-athletes, including All-Mountain West performer Mason Brown who took 14th at the conference meet. Jared Putney, a junior transfer from Seattle Pacific, represents the only new face in the bunch.
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Both Colorado State teams start the 2021 season in a dual with the Wyoming Open next Friday, Sept. 3rd at 6 p.m. in Cheyenne, Wyo. at the Great American Golf Course.
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Men's Cross Country
1. Air Force (5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 61
2. Utah State (3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 56
3. Boise State                    48
4. Colorado State            45
5. New Mexico (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 38
6. Wyoming                       31
7. Nevada                          19
8. Fresno State                 17
9. San José State              9
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Women's Cross Country
1. New Mexico (9)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 98
2. Boise State (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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. UNLVÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12
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For More on Colorado State Track & Field and Cross Country follow: Twitter – CSUTrackFieldXC | Instagram – csutrackfieldXC | Facebook – Colorado State Track & Field/Cross Country
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The men's poll is identical to the results from the spring 2021 championship with the addition of San Jose State, who didn't compete, at the end. The women's poll can say the same thing for 1-thru-7, while also welcoming back Fresno State and San Jose State to competition.
Â
On the women's side, New Mexico is the preseason conference favorite after garnering 98 points and nine first-place votes. Boise State (2 first-place votes) and the Rams follow with 91 and 78 points, respectively. Colorado State is coming off its most successful season for the ladies, advancing to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2007. With no NCAA Mountain Regional, the Rams earned an at-large bid after finishing third in the conference meet for their best placement since 2013. It also helped that the two teams, UNM and BS, that finished above the Rams ranked inside of USTFCCCA's top-10 nationally.
Â
The ladies return all 10 runners that competed in this spring's MW conference meet, including All-Mountain West recipients Lily Tomasula-Martin and Lauren Offerman. In all, there are 20 returners on the women's roster and two newcomers – freshman Kealan McNally and sophomore transfer Anna Petr from Wisconsin.
Â
The men fell short of expectations last year of winning the title and wound up in fourth, which is the position they are projected going into this season. Six Rams remain from the 2019 conference roster that took second at conference and prior to last spring's fourth-place finish, the men finished in the top-3 of the Mountain West for eight-straight seasons, dating back to 2011.
Â
The entirety of the men's roster returned of 18 student-athletes, including All-Mountain West performer Mason Brown who took 14th at the conference meet. Jared Putney, a junior transfer from Seattle Pacific, represents the only new face in the bunch.
Â
Both Colorado State teams start the 2021 season in a dual with the Wyoming Open next Friday, Sept. 3rd at 6 p.m. in Cheyenne, Wyo. at the Great American Golf Course.
Â
Men's Cross Country
1. Air Force (5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 61
2. Utah State (3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 56
3. Boise State                    48
4. Colorado State            45
5. New Mexico (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 38
6. Wyoming                       31
7. Nevada                          19
8. Fresno State                 17
9. San José State              9
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Women's Cross Country
1. New Mexico (9)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 98
2. Boise State (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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. UNLVÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12
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For More on Colorado State Track & Field and Cross Country follow: Twitter – CSUTrackFieldXC | Instagram – csutrackfieldXC | Facebook – Colorado State Track & Field/Cross Country
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Players Mentioned
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