Men Tabbed as Mountain West Preseason Favorite
8/24/2023 1:12:00 PM | Cross Country
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Air Force men's cross country team was selected as the preseason favorite in the Mountain West, the league office announced this afternoon (Aug. 24) with the release of their annual preseason coaches' poll.
Air Force, winners of the last three MW men's cross country titles, returns the defending conference champion in Sean Maison, as well as all-region runner Eli Bennett, and two of the last three MW Freshman of the Year honorees – Luke Combs (2020), Max Sannes (2022).
Collecting seven of the nine first-place votes, the men accounted for 63 points to lead the nine-team field in the preseason projections. Colorado State claimed the final two votes and 56 points to earn the No. 2 spot, while 10 points separated the rest of the top five – Utah State (third, 47), Boise State (fourth, 44), Wyoming (fifth, 37). New Mexico tallied 31 points to take sixth, while Nevada (23), San Jose State (12), and Fresno State (11) rounded out the projected standings.
On the women's side, Air Force was picked to finish sixth in the 11-team league. The Falcons, who return three of their five scoring runners, including first-team all-conference selection and NCAA qualifier Halle Hamilton, accumulated 62 points to earn that No. 6 placement – a tally just one point out of the top five.
Colorado State led the preseason picks with seven first-place votes and 97 total points, while New Mexico, winners of the last 15 conference meets, registered three first-place votes and 88 points. Utah State claimed the final first-place tally to finish third in the preseason picks with 83 points. Boise State was projected fourth with 72 points, while just one point separates Wyoming (fifth, 63) and the Falcons (sixth, 62). Nevada tallied 45 points to place seventh, while three points separated Fresno State (29), San Diego State (27) and UNLV (26). San Jose State rounded out the picks with 13 points.
The Falcons open the 2023 campaign next Friday (Sept. 1) with the AFXC Classic, while the 2023 Mountain West Cross Country Championships will take place in Eagle, Idaho, on Friday, Oct 27.
Air Force, winners of the last three MW men's cross country titles, returns the defending conference champion in Sean Maison, as well as all-region runner Eli Bennett, and two of the last three MW Freshman of the Year honorees – Luke Combs (2020), Max Sannes (2022).
Collecting seven of the nine first-place votes, the men accounted for 63 points to lead the nine-team field in the preseason projections. Colorado State claimed the final two votes and 56 points to earn the No. 2 spot, while 10 points separated the rest of the top five – Utah State (third, 47), Boise State (fourth, 44), Wyoming (fifth, 37). New Mexico tallied 31 points to take sixth, while Nevada (23), San Jose State (12), and Fresno State (11) rounded out the projected standings.
| Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll | ||
| 1 | AIR FORCE [7 FPV] | 63 |
| 2 | Colorado State [2 FPV] | 56 |
| 3 | Utah State | 47 |
| 4 | Boise State | 44 |
| 5 | Wyoming | 37 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 31 |
| 7 | Nevada | 23 |
| 8 | San Jose State | 12 |
| 9 | Fresno State | 11 |
On the women's side, Air Force was picked to finish sixth in the 11-team league. The Falcons, who return three of their five scoring runners, including first-team all-conference selection and NCAA qualifier Halle Hamilton, accumulated 62 points to earn that No. 6 placement – a tally just one point out of the top five.
Colorado State led the preseason picks with seven first-place votes and 97 total points, while New Mexico, winners of the last 15 conference meets, registered three first-place votes and 88 points. Utah State claimed the final first-place tally to finish third in the preseason picks with 83 points. Boise State was projected fourth with 72 points, while just one point separates Wyoming (fifth, 63) and the Falcons (sixth, 62). Nevada tallied 45 points to place seventh, while three points separated Fresno State (29), San Diego State (27) and UNLV (26). San Jose State rounded out the picks with 13 points.
| Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll | ||
| 1 | Colorado State [7 FPV] | 97 |
| 2 | New Mexico [3 FPV] | 88 |
| 3 | Utah State [1 FPV] | 83 |
| 4 | Boise State | 72 |
| 5 | Wyoming | 63 |
| 6 | AIR FORCE | 62 |
| 7 | Nevada | 45 |
| 8 | Fresno State | 29 |
| 9 | San Diego State | 27 |
| 10 | UNLV | 26 |
| 11 | San Jose State | 13 |
The Falcons open the 2023 campaign next Friday (Sept. 1) with the AFXC Classic, while the 2023 Mountain West Cross Country Championships will take place in Eagle, Idaho, on Friday, Oct 27.
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