Colorado School of Mines Tabbed RMAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Favorites
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines is the favorite ahead of the 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Women’s Cross Country season, the league announced Thursday. Three points separate the top-ranked Orediggers and Adams State in the preseason poll, which was voted on by the league’s 15 head coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their program.
Colorado School of Mines secures the preseason’s top position after earning 188 points and eight of the league’s 15 first-place votes. The Orediggers completed the 2020 season with a second-place finish at the RMAC Cross Country Championship, where they notched 63 points as a squad. Mines’ 2021 roster includes a pair of 2020 RMAC first team all-conference selections in Zoe Baker and Heather Keniry. Colorado School of Mines placed third at the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship, scoring 133 team points. The NCAA did not host a national championship during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adams State is picked to finish second overall, claiming six first-place votes and 185 points in preseason voting. The Grizzlies enter the season as the reigning national champions, scoring 23 points at the 2019 NCAA Division II Championship. Adams State returns five all-conference selections from last season, including Brianna Robles, Nicole Lawrence, Morgan Hykes, Reina Paredes and Sarah Wills.
Western Colorado claims the final first-place vote, along with 170 points to earn the third-place spot in the preseason poll. Heading into the 2021 campaign, the Mountaineers will aim to build upon their 2020 season, where they captured the conference championship after five individuals finished among the top-20 competitors. Katie Doucette, Hannah Mae Gigstad and Brooke Satathite return for WCU after earning all-conference distinctions in the 2020 season.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs resides in fourth place with 155 points, followed by Colorado Christian in fifth place with 127 points and Colorado State University Pueblo in sixth place with 116 points. Metropolitan State University of Denver sits in seventh place with 110 points, just ahead of Black Hills State with 101 points.
Colorado Mesa holds the ninth-place position with 99 points, while Fort Lewis sits in 10th place with 87 points. Westminster concludes voting in 11th place with 81 points, while Chadron State is 12th with 54 points. New Mexico Highlands (48 points), South Dakota Mines (32 points) and Regis (22 points) round out the preseason poll.
The 2021 RMAC cross country season is set to begin Saturday, Sept. 3. All roads lead to the 2021 RMAC Women’s Cross Country Championship, which is slated for Saturday, Oct. 23, at Applewood Golf Course in Golden, Colo., with Colorado School of Mines will serving as the host institution.
2021 RMAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
| Institution (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Colorado School of Mines (8) |
188 |
| 2. Adams State (6) |
185 |
| 3. Western Colorado (1) |
170 |
| 4. University of Colorado Colorado Springs |
155 |
| 5. Colorado Christian |
127 |
| 6. Colorado State University Pueblo |
116 |
| 7. Metropolitan State University of Denver |
110 |
| 8. Black Hills State |
101 |
| 9. Colorado Mesa |
99 |
| 10. Fort Lewis |
87 |
| 11. Westminster |
81 |
| 12. Chadron State |
54 |
| 13. New Mexico Highlands |
48 |
| 14. South Dakota Mines |
32 |
| 15. Regis |
22 |