NEW ORLEANS – Western Colorado University men's and women's cross country teams both finish in the top three in the NCAA DII National Preseason Coaches' Poll. Announced earlier today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) the Mountaineer men came in ranked second in the nation for division two, as the women came in ranked third.
 
With Western's men ranked number two, they earn their best preseason ranking since 2013 after a third-place finish at last year's NCAA championships. The Mountaineers will have four of their top five runners returning from last season. The DII Regional Coach's Poll released yesterday, placed the men's team first in the South Central Region.
 
Western women's team lands third in the National Preseason Coaches' Poll for the third-straight year. Six times this decade the Mountaineers have finished on the podium at nationals, including last year's fourth-place finish. The women's team ranked second in the South Central Regional Coach's Poll, after finishing as last year's regional runner-up.
 
The Mountaineers are set to run the Western Team Time Trial this Saturday in Gunnison, set to take place at 9 a.m.
 
Western is set to kick off the season at the Wyoming Invite on Friday, Sep. 6 in Cheyenne. Followed by their home meet, the Mountaineer/Cowboy Invite on Saturday, Sep. 14.