COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines has been selected to win the 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Men's Cross Country Championship, as the league announced Thursday with the release of its 2026 RMAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Western Colorado enters the season ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll with 163 points, receiving two first-place votes and nine third-place votes. The Mountaineers return after a strong 2025 campaign that saw the team finish third at the RMAC Championship before placing fifth at the NCAA Division II National Championship.

Western also earned a strong presence on the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Team, with three Mountaineers receiving recognition.

Kellen Reed earned a spot on the preseason All-RMAC team, while Tyler Nord and Oliver Diaz were both selected after earning First Team All-RMAC honors last season. Nord and Diaz return as two of Western's top performers from a year ago as the Mountaineers look to build on their impressive 2025 season.

With three returning standouts recognized on the preseason All-RMAC Team and a No. 3 ranking in the conference poll, Western enters 2026 with high expectations as the Mountaineers set their sights on another championship-caliber season.