Entering the 2022 season, three Mountain West men’s and women’s programs are ranked in the NCAA Division I Preseason Cross Country polls, released Wednesday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA).
On the women’s side, MW preseason favorite New Mexico is ranked second in the first coaches poll of the year with 319 points and a first-place vote, just six points behind No. 1 North Carolina State. With Wednesday’s ranking, the Lobos have been ranked in the top-two to start the season in four of the last five years, including three times at the No. 2 spot.
The women are coming off of a third-place finish at the NCAA championship, extending their top-10 team finish streak to 12 straight seasons as well as continuing the longest current top-10 streak in the country in cross country. In addition, the Lobos won the Mountain Regional title last season after all seven runners placed in the top-35.
Joining New Mexico in the national preseason rankings is Colorado State, earning 189 points. Additionally, Utah State is receiving votes.
Air Force is ranked in the top 15 heading into the 2022 season on the men’s side. The Falcons are ranked 13th with 184 points, Air Force’s highest preseason ranking since 2004. The Falcons have either been ranked or received votes in 39-straight polls dating back to the opening poll of the 2017 season.
Additionally, Boise State and Utah State are receiving votes in the first men’s coaches poll of 2022.
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