COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2020 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll was announced today and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Mountain Lions have been picked to finish fourth overall with 126 points.
The coaches' poll was voted on by all 13 head women'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 this release CSU Pueblo and Regis have decided to opt out.
Adams State has been tabbed the favorite to win the 2020 RMAC Women's Cross Country Championship garnering 12 first-place votes (168 points) as the Grizzlies aim to win their ninth straight conference title. Colorado School of Mines was selected to finish second receiving one first-place vote and a total of 148 points. The Mountaineers of Western Colorado finished third with 140 points.
UCCS closed the 2019 season with their fourth straight appearance at the NCAA Division II National Championship meet and their seventh appearance in the last eight years. The Mountain Lions finished 15
th overall with 471 points at the national meet after placing fourth in both the NCAA South Central Regional and RMAC Championship meets.
Layla Almasri returns to the program this season after earning 2019 USTFCCCA All-South Central Region and All-RMAC Second Team honors. She ended the season with a 6K PR at the NCAA DII Championship race with a time of 21:18.2, finishing 62
nd overall. Joining Almasri from last year's team are
Maia Austin,
Liz Bindert,
Natalie Church,
Hannah Ellis,
Ellie Enderle,
Emily Gentry,
Michela Hewitt,
Ashten Loeks,
Elizabeth Richter,
Vanessa Roybal,
Jenny Smith,
Meg Super,
Erika Timbang and
Molly Weir.
Eleven newcomers were added to the program during the off-season:
Nadine Almasri,
Sarah Bassett,
Ashley Frye,
Rachel Goodrich,
Kate Hedlund,
Mason Ingallinera,
Riley McGrath,
Kyla Ramsey,
Hannah Ray,
Rachel Richtman, and
Kelsey Rycenga.
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. Adams State – 168 (12)
2. Colorado School of Mines – 148 (1)
3. Western Colorado – 140
4. UCCS – 126
5. Colorado Christian – 102
6. MSU Denver – 98
7. Black Hills State – 97
8. Colorado Mesa – 93
9. Fort Lewis – 86
10. Chadron State – 59
11. N.M. Highlands – 47
12. South Dakota Mines – 37
13. Westminster College – 35
