
Photo by: Gary DeVore, Cadet Wing Media
Air Force Set to Open Postseason at Mountain West Championships
10/30/2025 11:36:00 AM | Cross Country
Championship season begins for the Air Force cross country program on Friday, Oct. 31, when the team travels to Fresno, Calif., for the 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Cross Country Championships. The 23rd-ranked men will kick off the day at 9:00 a.m. (PT).
MEET INFORMATION
The 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Cross Country Championships will be contested at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif., on Friday, Oct 31. The men will kick off the championships with an 8K race at 9:00 a.m., while the women's will follow with their 6K final at 9:45 a.m. (all times PT). The Mountain West Network will broadcast the meet live on TheMW.com and MW App, while results will be available via Record Timing. The MW App can be accessed on iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Android, and Android TV.
Mountain West Championships
Friday | October 31
Fresno, CA | Woodward Park
Men's 8K - 9:00 am | Women's 6K - 9:45 am
Broadcast | Results | Championship Central
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE
The Mountain West Championships will feature 10 men's teams and 12 women's programs. The men's race will feature two nationally-ranked teams (No. 3 New Mexico, No. 23 Air Force), one squad that is receiving votes (Boise State) and athletes from Colorado State, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Nevada, San Jose State, Utah State and Wyoming, while the women's field will feature ninth-ranked New Mexico and runners from Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Grand Canyon, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming.
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Six different schools have captured the men's team title at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships. Former conference opponent BYU tallied nine trophies during their time in the league (1999-2002, 2004-08), while New Mexico (2009-14, 2023-24), Air Force (2003, 2015, 2020-22), Boise State (2016, 2018), Colorado State (2017) and Utah State (2019) have also collected MW titles. On the women's side, New Mexico (15-straight from 2008-22, 2024) and BYU (eighth-straight from 1999-2006) have combined for 24 of the 26 team titles, while Colorado State has won the remaining two (2007, 2023).
AIR FORCE HISTORY AT THE MW CHAMPIONSHIPS, TEAM EDITION
Highlighted by five team championships (2003, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022) and 11 runner-up finishes, the men have finished within the top three of the Mountain West 23 times in the last 26 years. The women, who claimed runner-up honors in 2016 and 2019, have placed within the top three nine times – and finished within the top half of the field 20 times.
AIR FORCE HISTORY AT THE MW CHAMPIONSHIPS, INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING
Since the Mountain West was formed in 1999, the men have seen 51 runners combine for 90 all-conference awards, including two individual champions (Isaiah Bragg 2013, Sean Maison 2022) and 43 first-team (top seven) selections. Ben Payne is the Academy's only four-time all-MW honoree, while Sam Gilman is the only Falcon to claim three first-team awards. On the women's side, 17 Falcons have collected 26 all-conference honors, including Mahala Norris, who captured the women's first MWXC title at the 2020 championship meet.
FAST FACT
Air Force claimed the top finish by a true freshman in four-straight championship meets, as Ryan Johnson (2019 men). Luke Combs (2020 men), Halle Hamilton (2021 women) and Max Sannes (2022 men) all earning MW Freshman of the Year honors.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
In addition to the success in the Mountain West, the men also captured three team titles and three individual championships as members of the Western Athletic Conference. The men won WAC team titles in 1991, 1994, and 1995, while Chris Nelson (1990, 1991) and Eric Mack (1995) captured individual titles.
THE NEXT COURSE
The postseason continues for Air Force on Friday, Nov. 14, when it travels to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the NCAA Mountain Regional.
MEET INFORMATION
The 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Cross Country Championships will be contested at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif., on Friday, Oct 31. The men will kick off the championships with an 8K race at 9:00 a.m., while the women's will follow with their 6K final at 9:45 a.m. (all times PT). The Mountain West Network will broadcast the meet live on TheMW.com and MW App, while results will be available via Record Timing. The MW App can be accessed on iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Android, and Android TV.
Mountain West Championships
Friday | October 31
Fresno, CA | Woodward Park
Men's 8K - 9:00 am | Women's 6K - 9:45 am
Broadcast | Results | Championship Central
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE
The Mountain West Championships will feature 10 men's teams and 12 women's programs. The men's race will feature two nationally-ranked teams (No. 3 New Mexico, No. 23 Air Force), one squad that is receiving votes (Boise State) and athletes from Colorado State, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Nevada, San Jose State, Utah State and Wyoming, while the women's field will feature ninth-ranked New Mexico and runners from Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Grand Canyon, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming.
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Six different schools have captured the men's team title at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships. Former conference opponent BYU tallied nine trophies during their time in the league (1999-2002, 2004-08), while New Mexico (2009-14, 2023-24), Air Force (2003, 2015, 2020-22), Boise State (2016, 2018), Colorado State (2017) and Utah State (2019) have also collected MW titles. On the women's side, New Mexico (15-straight from 2008-22, 2024) and BYU (eighth-straight from 1999-2006) have combined for 24 of the 26 team titles, while Colorado State has won the remaining two (2007, 2023).
AIR FORCE HISTORY AT THE MW CHAMPIONSHIPS, TEAM EDITION
Highlighted by five team championships (2003, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022) and 11 runner-up finishes, the men have finished within the top three of the Mountain West 23 times in the last 26 years. The women, who claimed runner-up honors in 2016 and 2019, have placed within the top three nine times – and finished within the top half of the field 20 times.
AIR FORCE HISTORY AT THE MW CHAMPIONSHIPS, INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING
Since the Mountain West was formed in 1999, the men have seen 51 runners combine for 90 all-conference awards, including two individual champions (Isaiah Bragg 2013, Sean Maison 2022) and 43 first-team (top seven) selections. Ben Payne is the Academy's only four-time all-MW honoree, while Sam Gilman is the only Falcon to claim three first-team awards. On the women's side, 17 Falcons have collected 26 all-conference honors, including Mahala Norris, who captured the women's first MWXC title at the 2020 championship meet.
FAST FACT
Air Force claimed the top finish by a true freshman in four-straight championship meets, as Ryan Johnson (2019 men). Luke Combs (2020 men), Halle Hamilton (2021 women) and Max Sannes (2022 men) all earning MW Freshman of the Year honors.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
In addition to the success in the Mountain West, the men also captured three team titles and three individual championships as members of the Western Athletic Conference. The men won WAC team titles in 1991, 1994, and 1995, while Chris Nelson (1990, 1991) and Eric Mack (1995) captured individual titles.
THE NEXT COURSE
The postseason continues for Air Force on Friday, Nov. 14, when it travels to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the NCAA Mountain Regional.
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