COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released the 2022 Women's and Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll, today (Aug. 22). Western Colorado women's and men's team came in ranked fourth in the preseason poll.
In the women's poll, earning 14 first-place votes and 196 points was Adams State who claimed their second consecutive national title in 2021, the program's fourth since 2015. Colorado School of Mines received the league's final first-place vote and was second place in the poll.
Colorado Mines received one first-place vote and 177 points to clinch the second-place position in preseason voting. The Orediggers placed second at the 2021 RMAC Championship.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs rounded out the top-three spots in preseason voting with 172 points. Western Colorado claimed the fourth spot with 152 points, while Colorado State University Pueblo came in fifth place with 132 points.
In the men's poll, Colorado School of Mines enters as the favorite, as the Orediggers look to repeat and lead the way in preseason voting with 13 first-place votes and 195 points. Mines claimed the 2021 RMAC Championship and the 2021 NCAA South Central Championship before taking third at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Reigning RMAC Runner of the Year Dillon Powell returns to the Mines roster after winning four of his five races last season.
Adams State enters the season ranked in second in the poll after closing the 2021 campaign with second-place finishes in the RMAC Championship, the NCAA South Central Championship and the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championship. The Grizzlies round out preseason voting with 183 points and a pair of first-place votes.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs secures third place with 158 points, just ahead of Western Colorado, which gathered 157 points for fourth place. Colorado Christian sits in fifth place with 142 points.
The RMAC Women's and Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll is voted on by the league's 15 coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their program.
2022 RMAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
| Institution (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Adams State (14) |
196 |
| 2. Colorado School of Mines (1) |
177 |
| 3. UCCS |
172 |
| 4. Western Colorado |
152 |
| 5. CSU Pueblo |
131 |
| 6. Colorado Christian |
125 |
| 7. MSU Denver |
114 |
| 8. Westminster |
103 |
| 9. Black Hills State |
92 |
| 10. Colorado Mesa |
90 |
| 11. Fort Lewis |
76 |
| 12. New Mexico Highlands |
49 |
| 13. Chadron State |
42 |
| 14. South Dakota Mines |
32 |
| 15. Regis |
24 |
2022 RMAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
| Institution (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Colorado School of Mines (13) |
196 |
| 2. Adams State (2) |
183 |
| 3. UCCS |
158 |
| 4. Western Colorado |
157 |
| 5. Colorado Christian |
142 |
| 6. Colorado Mesa |
122 |
| 7. CSU Pueblo |
112 |
| 8. Black Hills State |
108 |
| 9. MSU Denver |
92 |
| 10. New Mexico Highlands |
81 |
| 11. Fort Lewis |
67 |
| 12. Chadron State |
53 |
| 13. South Dakota Mines |
47 |
| 14. Westminster |
38 |
| 15. Regis |
20 |
