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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Six schools are set to begin the season ranked in the NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll released by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association.  

Three schools are in the Top 5, Colorado School of Mines (No. 2), Adams State University (No. 3), and Western Colorado University (No. 5). Three more teams are ranked in the Top 30: Colorado Christian University, ranked at No. 9, University of Colorado Colorado Springs at No. 14, and Fort Lewis College at No. 28.  

The Colorado School of Mines, the defending RMAC Men’s Cross Country Champions, brings back a veteran core of four All-Americans and three top 10 finishers at the National Championship, including Ethan Grolnic, Paul Knight, Dawson Gunn, and Jeremiah Vaille, as well as an All-American in the Steeplechase, Max Bonenberger. The Orediggers are prepared to defend their RMAC and national championship crowns.   

Adams State’s All-American duo of Kidus Begashaw and Julian Campos return this season, along with three additional members of last year’s team: Housem Hrabi, Nathan Scherbarth, and David Millan. The Grizzlies also bring in Luca Madeo, the German half-marathon national champion, and the NAIA National Champion in the 5k and 10k. Coming in second place last year at the RMAC Men’s Cross Country Championship, Adams State aims to replicate that success and challenge for the top spot in the upcoming year.   

Western Colorado earned their highest ranking in four years. They return RMAC Freshman of the Year and All-American Oliver Diaz, and an additional four members of their 2024 top seven. Finishing third last season at the RMAC Cross Country Championship, the young Mountaineers aim to continue improving during their 2025 campaign.  

The Cougars earned their highest ranking since 2023. Colorado Christian finished ninth at the 2024 RMAC Cross Country Championships and 11th at the Division II National Cross Country Championships. Last season’s fourth-place finisher at the RMAC Cross Country Championships, UCCS, looks to improve on its 15th-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country National Championships. Fort Lewis finished sixth at the 2024 RMAC Championships. Picked to finish seventh in the RMAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Skyhawks look to rival this ranking and draw attention on the national stage.  

The 2025 cross country season is slated to begin this weekend with Adams State, Colorado Mesa, and UCCS hosting their own respective meets. The 2025 RMAC Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, Oct. 25 hosted by UCCS at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs. 

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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