NEW ORLEANS, La. – Both University of Colorado Colorado Springs cross country programs are ranked in the top 25 of the preseason 2026 United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II National Coaches' polls, announced by the organization on Wednesday. The Mountain Lions women's program is ranked No. 7 nationally, while the men's team is ranked No. 16 in the preseason poll.
The Mountain Lions women's program and head coach
Corey Kubatzky enter the 2026 season following a sixth-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championship meet. UCCS advanced to the national championship after placing second at the NCAA South Central Regional, while the Mountain Lions also finished second at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship.
The UCCS men's program and head coach
Mark Misch are coming off a 2025 season that saw the Mountain Lions finish fourth at the RMAC Championship and sixth at the NCAA South Central Regional before placing 13th at the NCAA Division II National Championship meet.
In the 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Cross Country (RMAC) Preseason polls, UCCS was selected third in the women's poll and fourth in the men's poll. Four Mountain Lions were named to the Women's Preseason All-RMAC Team, including
Kseniya Nikanorov,
Madison Brosig,
Elizabeth McQuitty and
Kate Henderson.
Koy Cunningham,
Enzo Knapp and
Brett Davis earned Men's Preseason All-RMAC recognition.
The Mountain Lions are also ranked among the top teams in the USTFCCCA South Central Region preseason rankings. The UCCS women's team is ranked No. 4 in the region, while the men's team is ranked No. 7.
The Mountain Lions will open the 2026 season with the UCCS Rust Buster at Monument Valley Park. The men's 8k race will begin at 9:15 a.m., followed by the women's 5k race at 10 a.m.
2026 USTFCCCA NATIONAL RANKINGS
| WEEK |
MEN |
WOMEN |
| Sept. 2 Preseason |
No. 16 |
No. 7 |
2026 USTFCCCA REGIONAL RANKINGS
| WEEK |
MEN |
WOMEN |
| Sept. 1 Preseason |
No. 7 |
No. 4 |
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity spo
