Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

GOLDEN, Colo. – The field is set for the 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships. With all 15 RMAC institutions set to attend, the event will be hosted Saturday, Oct. 23, at Applewood Golf Course in Golden, Colo. Colorado School of Mines will serve as the host institution. The women’s 6k race is slated for a 10:40 a.m. start, while the men’s 8k event will kick off at 11:30 a.m.
 
Both of the 15-team fields in both the men’s and women’s events are loaded with five teams ranked among the nation’s top-30 on the men’s side and six teams ranked among the top-30 on the women’s side. Colorado School of Mines enters the weekend tied for the nation’s No. 1 men’s program, while Adams State stands No. 1 in the country among women’s teams.
 
In addition to the top-ranked Orediggers, the Grizzlies hold the nation’s No. 3 position, followed by No. 5 Colorado Christian, No. 10 Western Colorado and No. 13 UCCS, according to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) men’s poll.
 
In addition to the team competition, the individual race will also be competitive with New Mexico Highland’s Andrew Amor in attendance. Amor has earned four first-place individual finishes for the Cowboys’ throughout the 2021 season. Colorado School of Mines’ Kyle Moran, Chris Cathcart and Dillon Powell have each earned an individual victory for the Orediggers this season.
 
While the Grizzlies hold the nation’s top spot with five first-place votes in the latest women’s USTFCCCA poll, the Orediggers trail narrowly at the No. 4 spot. UCCS checks in at No. 6, followed by No. 7 Colorado State University Pueblo, No. 10 Western Colorado and No. 19 Colorado Christian.
 
Among the RMAC women’s competitors, five individuals from four schools have secured first-place individual performances throughout the 2021 season. In addition to her three RMAC Women’s Runner of the Week awards, Western Colorado’s Taylor Doucette has snagged one individual victory this season. Additionally, Adams State’s Brianna Robles earned a top finish at the Joe I. Vigil XC Open (Sept. 11). Black Hills State’s Ruby Lindquist and Xiomara Robinson have each earned an individual win for the Yellow Jackets, while UCCS’ Layla Almasri claimed first place at the Mountain Lions’ 14th Annual UCCS Rust Buster (Sept. 4).
 
Colorado School of Mines enters the weekend as the reigning RMAC Men’s Cross Country team champion after registering 22 points at the 2020 RMAC Cross Country Championship. Western Colorado claimed the 2020 women’s title with 44 points among the 12-team field.
 
Upon the conclusion of Saturday’s men’s race, RMAC awards will be presented at 12:15 p.m. For spectators planning to attend Saturday’s festivities, admission will be free of charge. The parking lot will be closed to spectators, but street parking will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.