COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's cross country program received 126 points in the 2020 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, ranking them fourth out of 13 teams competing in cross country this season.
 
The coaches' poll was voted on by all 13 head men's cross country coaches that are set to compete this year. Coaches could not vote for their own institution. The Preseason Runners to Watch were selected by each institution.  Each institution has the option to opt out of the season due to Covid-19. As of today, CSU Pueblo and Regis have decided to opt out.
 
Colorado School of Mines has been selected to win the 2020 RMAC Men's Cross Country Championship title with nine first-place votes and a total of 161 points. The Orediggers won the 2019 RMAC Championship marking the third conference title in four years and followed that up by winning the NCAA Championship, the second in five years for the program.  The Grizzlies of Adams State received four first-place votes (159 points) to be tabbed as the runner-up, as Western Colorado comes in ranked third in the preseason poll with 135 points. 
 
The Mountain Lions are coming off one of their most successful seasons in program history.  UCCS qualified for the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship Meet, placing 20^th overall with 491 points, after finishing fifth at the NCAA South Central Regional Meet (144) and fourth at the RMAC Cross Country Championship meet with 102 points.
 
UCCS also made history last season, marking the first time three Mountain Lions earned All-RMAC First Team honors.  Afewerki Zeru led the trio with a fourth place finish the conference championship, followed by Mark Simmons and Matthew Schramm in 12^th and 13^th place, respectively.  All three Mountain Lions went on to earn USTFCCCA All-South Central Region honors two weeks later, and all three Mountain Lions are returning for the 2020 season.
 
The Mountain Lions will host the 13^th annual UCCS Rust Buster this Friday, Sept. 4 at Monument Valley Park.  The race will mark the first cross country race in NCAA Division II this season.  UCCS will host the dual meet against Fort Lewis College.  The women's 5K race will start at 6 p.m., followed by the men's 8K race at 6:40 p.m.

Coaches Poll (first-place votes)
1.Colo. Sch. of Mines - (9) 161 pts.
2. Adams State - (4) 159 pts.
3. Western Colorado - 135 pts.
4. UCCS - 126 pts.
5. Colorado Christian - 116 pts.
6. Black Hills State - 107 pts.
7. MSU Denver - 94 pts.
8. Fort Lewis - 91 pts.
9. Colorado Mesa - 84 pts.
10.Chadron State- 65 pts.
11. South Dakota School of Mines - 47 pts
12. New Mexico Highlands- 43 pts.
13. Westminster - 26 pts.