Division II’s Top Teams Compete for the RMAC Women’s Cross Country Championship

Seven teams ranked in the USTFCCCA Top 30 rankings, the most of any Division II Conference

10/23/2025 3:00:05 PM

By: A.J. Vazquez, Strategic Communications & Marketing Intern

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The nation’s premier Division II cross country conference championship is set for Saturday, October 25 as 15 teams travel to Monument Valley Park North in Colorado Springs, aiming to be crowned the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion. The field features seven nationally ranked teams, numerous returning All-Americans, and multiple United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athletes of the Week promising a showcase of elite talent from start to finish.  

The women’s 5k opens the championship with a start time of 9:30 AM (MT). Awards for the individual and team champions will follow the men’s race.  

Colorado School of Mines enters the postseason ranked No. 1 in the nation for the fourth straight week and will look to defend its top spot against reigning RMAC and national champions No. 4 Adams State. The Orediggers and Grizzlies face a deep field that includes two additional teams in the Top 10 nationally in No. 7 Western Colorado University and No. 8 University of Colorado Colorado Springs. With No. 14 Colorado Mesa University, No. 19 Colorado State University Pueblo, and No. 26 Fort Lewis eager to play spoiler, the women’s race is poised to be action-packed from start to finish.  

Colorado School of Mines and Adams State battled in the FHSU Tiger Open to close their regular season, taking first and second place, respectively. Western Colorado and UCCS head into the RMAC Championship following strong performances in the UCCS XC Open. At the Lewis Crossover, Fort Lewis had a top 10 finish, highlighted by Hannah Hartwell winning the individual title, while Colorado Mesa turned heads after a fourth place finish, jumping 14 spots in the national rankings. Colorado State University Pueblo won the team title in the South Central Regional Preview before transitioning its focus to the conference championship.  

Eight runners enter the race with a time among the Division II’s Top 100 in the 6k this season. Colorado School of Mines’ duo of Grace Strongman and Emily LeMena headline the field with the RMAC’s top performances this season. Strongman, the week four USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week, leads the RMAC with the No. 4 6k time in the nation of 20:36.8. Fort Lewis’ two-time USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week, returning All-American, and the Monument Valley Park course record holder, Hannah Hartwell, follows closely with a 6k time of 20:45.1. Adams State’s two-time All-American, Tristan Spence, is also in the mix with a top 100 mark of 21:36.8.  

With entries finalized and the final regular season rankings published, all that’s left is to find out who will stand atop the RMAC podium on championship day. 

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Top 100 Performers 
RANK NAME SCHOOL TIME
4 Grace Strongman Colorado School of Mines 20:36.8
6 Emily LaMena Colorado School of Mines   20:09.7
9 Hannah Hartwell Fort Lewis College  20:45.1
33 Allison Beasley Western Colorado University 21:10.3
53 Margaux Basart Colorado School of Mines 21:21.8
74 Olivia Drodz Colorado State University Pueblo 21:28.9
93 Kate Henderson University of Colorado Colorado Springs 21:35.8
96 Tristian Spence Adams State University  21:36.8
Honoring Coach Joe Vigil
Joe Vigil, legendary Adams State cross country and track and field coach, higher-education advocate, and a respected leader that embodied the mission of Division II athletics, passed away on July 19, 2025. Coach Joe Vigil’s family will be present at the 2025 RMAC Cross Country Championships, as the conference will honor his legacy and continual impact on the sport by naming the RMAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year award the Joe I. Vigil Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. 

RMAC Community Engagement 
Children’s Hospital Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is proud to partner with Children’s Hospital Colorado to offer community engagement opportunities to athletes, fans, and attendees at each of its 2025-26 championships. The RMAC will honor Children's Hospital Colorado patient, Yoseph Williamson, at the 2025 RMAC Cross Country Championships. There will be opportunities to donate at the championship or online at GiveChildrensCO.org/chcocommunity. Any donation is appreciated and will directly benefit Children’s Hospital Colorado patients and their families. 

Landsharks Running Club
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is excited to host the Landsharks Running Club as honorary course marshals for the 2025 RMAC Cross Country Championships. The Landsharks Running Club, led by Lori Hill and Jackie Bell, is a Colorado Springs based nonprofit that focuses on developing young athletes, kindergarten through sixth grade, in positive, safe, character-based programs. 

United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum
The RMAC proudly boasts its connection to the Olympic City, USA community, by partnering with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum to offer a special discounted museum ticket rate to participants and spectators of the 2025 RMAC Cross Country Championships. Discounted tickets for the self-guided tours are available Thursday, October 23 – Sunday, October 26 at tickets.usopm.org/events. Dive into the spirit of sport and success at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum and discover why Colorado Springs proudly wears the title of Olympic City, USA. Book your visit and uncover the magic that fuels champions!

HotelRMAC.com
The RMAC's travel booking platform, HotelRMAC.com, is now offering discounted rates on car rentals and flights, in addition to its global hotel chain discounts. The site offers exceptional consumer value to all RMAC fans, alumni, and travelers, while also providing an avenue to financially support the league. Visit HotelRMAC.com to book your Colorado Springs accommodations for the 2025 RMAC Cross Country Championships.

About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
 
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