Gunnison, Colo.,  Western Colorado Men's and Women's Cross Country heads to Grand Junction, Colo., on Friday September 5 to compete at the Gig Leadbetter Maverick Stampede hosted by the Colorado Mesa University.
 
This is not Western's first appearance at the Gig Leadbetter Maverick Stampede. The Mountaineers competed in this race in 2021, 2022, and 2023.  
 
MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE MEET

• The Mountaineers come into the 2025 season ranked third in the men's and tied for fourth in the women's cross-country Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason polls.
• The Western Colorado Men's and Women's Cross-Country teams each placed fourth at the 2024 NCAA DII South Central Regional Championship meet.
• At the NCAA Division II Championship Meet the men finished ninth and the women placed twelfth.
• From those two squads the Mountaineers return, 2024 Freshman of the Year, Oliver Diaz and Second Team All-RMAC runner Tyler Nord for the men and First Team All-RMAC athletes Peyton Weiss and Lauren Willson for the women. Diaz, Nord and Willson received 2025 preseason All-RMAC nods.  
• The Mountaineers have high expectations for the year ahead.

 
UP NEXT
Western Colorado heads to Stillwater, Oklahoma to compete in the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree on Fri., Sept. 26.

For more information visit gomountaineerscom.