By: A.J. Vazquez, Strategic Communications & Marketing Intern
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines is picked to win the 2025-26 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship in a poll of the league's 13 head coaches.
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Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
2025-26 Men's Indoor Track Preseason Coaches' Poll
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PL
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TEAM
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1sts
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2nds
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3rds
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Points
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1.
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Colorado School of Mines
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6
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6
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-––
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138
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2.
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UCCS
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6
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5
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1
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136
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3.
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Adams State
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1
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2
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5
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111
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4.
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CSU Pueblo
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––
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––
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3
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104
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5.
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Colorado Mesa
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––
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––
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3
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100
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6.
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Western Colorado
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––
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––
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2
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97
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7.
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MSU Denver
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––
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––
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-––
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76
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8.
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Chadron State
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––
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––
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1
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70
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9.
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Fort Lewis
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––
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––
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––
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52
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10.
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South Dakota Mines
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––
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––
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––
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50
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11.
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Black Hills State
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––
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––
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––
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45
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12.
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Colorado Christian
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––
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––
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––
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33
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13.
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Westminster
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––
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––
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––
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14
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Notes: Head coaches were not permitted to vote for their team. 12 points for a 1st-place vote, 11 for 2nd, etc. 156 points maximum in men's indoor track & field.
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The Orediggers accumulated a total of 138 points with six votes for first place and six for second to narrowly edge out second place and reigning RMAC Indoor Track & Field Champions, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, by two points. The Mountain Lions accumulated six votes for first, five for second, and one for third, good for 136 points. The 2025 RMAC cross country champions, Adams State University, was picked to finish third with 111 points, after picking up one vote for first, and two for second.
Colorado State University Pueblo earned 104 points and is projected to finish fourth. Colorado Mesa University followed in fifth with 100 points, three ahead of Western Colorado University. Metropolitan State University Denver opened the second half of the poll in seventh with 76 points. Rounding out the standings are Chadron State College (70), Fort Lewis College (52), South Dakota Mines (50), Black Hills State University (45), Colorado Christian University (33), and Westminster University (14).
The 2025 Preseason Men's Indoor Track & Field Team is based on the top returning student-athletes in each event, based on performances at the 2024-25 RMAC Men's Indoor Championship and the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championship. Kidus Begashaw returns to the track as the RMAC's top performer in the 3000- and 5000-meter events after garnering his first national title at the 2025 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship. Chayton Bynes returns for Chadron State after earning All-American honors in the triple jump last year, while KJ McInnis returns for UCCS in high jump as the RMAC's reigning indoor champion. Throwers Sam Dirkes and Michael Roberts from Adams State and UCCS were named to the preseason All-RMAC team after returning as the league's top performers last indoor season.
With the season opening this weekend, teams aim to make an early impact after a fall of preparation.
The 2025-26 RMAC Indoor Track & Field Championship is set for February 27-28 at the Mountaineer Field House on the campus of Western Colorado University. The NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championship will take place March 13-14 in Virginia Beach.
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2025 Preseason All-RMAC: Men's Indoor Track & Field
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Event
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Top Returnee
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School
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Yr.
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Hometown
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60 meters
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Zachary Gaumont (1)
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Fort Lewis
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Jr.
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Mesa, Arizona
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200 meters
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Kenny Greene (1)
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MSU Denver
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RJr.
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Aurora, Colorado
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400 meters
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Jonah Fallon (1)
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Colorado School of Mines
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RJr.
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Batavia, Illinois
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800 meters
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Tim Thompson (1)
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Colorado School of Mines
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Sr.
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Fort Collins, Colorado
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Mile
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Housem Hrabi
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Adams State
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Sr.
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Doha, Tunisia
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3000 meters
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Kidus Begashaw
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Adams State
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Jr.
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Aurora, Colorado
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5000 meters
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Kidus Begashaw
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Adams State
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Jr.
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Aurora, Colorado
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60 meter hurdles
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Nigel James (1)
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UCCS
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Jr.
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Denver, Colorado
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High Jump
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KJ McInnis (1)
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UCCS
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Sr.
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Denver, Colorado
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Long Jump
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Chayton Bynes (FAotY)
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Chadron State
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RSo.
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Chadron, Nebraska
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Triple Jump
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Chayton Bynes (FAotY)
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Chadron State
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RSo.
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Chadron, Nebraska
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Pole Vault
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Aidan Bennett (1)
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Colorado School of Mines
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Sr.
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San Clemente, California
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Shot Put
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Sam Dirkes (1)
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Adams State
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Gr.
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Longmont, Colorado
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Weight Throw
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Michael Roberts (2)
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UCCS
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Sr.
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Arvada, Colorado
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Heptathlon
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Nicholas Stade (1)
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Colorado School of Mines
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Sr.
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Lafayette, Colorado
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Symbols in parentheses are 2024-25 All-RMAC Recognitions: Yellow background indicates a returning RMAC champion (or co-champion) in that event; FAotY – was a Co-Field Athlete of the Year; 1 -was a First Team All-RMAC finisher in the event; 2 - was a Second Team All-RMAC finisher in the event.
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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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