COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 22, 2019) – The Cowboy cross country team was picked second, while the Cowgirls were selected eighth, in the Mountain West's annual preseason coaches' poll, it was announced Thursday by the league.
 
The second-place pick for the Cowboys is two spots ahead of where they finished in the 2018 MW Championships. They earned 54 points in the poll and picked up a pair of first-place votes. Boise State was chosen the by league's coaches to win the MW with 61 points and six first-place votes. Colorado State and Air Force were picked third and fourth with 47 and 46 points, respectively, while Air Force earned the last first-place vote. Utah State grabbed 41 points for fifth, while New Mexico and San José State received 29 and 22 points for sixth and seventh, respectively. Nevada earned 13 points for eighth, while Fresno State's 11 points put the Bulldogs in ninth.
 
The Cowgirls' eight-place pick matches their 2018 finish at the league championships. They earned 38 points in the coaches' poll. Defending champions New Mexico received 10 first-place votes and 100 points to earn the top spot, while Boise State earned the remaining first-place vote and 90 points to be picked second. Air Force (77), Utah State (67) and Colorado State (63) round out the top-five. Nevada and San José State earned 61 and 46 points, respectively for sixth and seventh place. Fresno State picked up 25 points for ninth, San Diego State was picked 10^th with 20 points and UNLV was picked 11^th with 18 points.
 
The Cowboys return their top four finishers from the 2018 NCAA National Championships in Paul Roberts, Christopher Henry, Harry Ewing and Daniel Hintz. Roberts was the MW individual champion a year ago, and he earned all-MW honors along with Henry and Ewing. The Cowgirls bring back their top three finisher from the MW Championships a year ago in Katelyn Mitchem, Ashley Bock and Kacey Doner. Mitchem earned a MW Cross Country Athlete of the Week award last season as a freshman.
 
The Wyoming cross country teams begin the season on Friday, Sept. 6, with the Wyoming Invite in Cheyenne, Wyo. The event will be held at the Little America Golf Course, with the women's race scheduled for 6 p.m., and the men's race slated for 6:30 p.m.
 
Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Team                                     Points
1. Boise State (6)              61
2. Wyoming (2)                 54
3. Colorado State             47
4. Air Force (1)                   46
5. Utah State                      41
6. New Mexico                  29
7. San José State               22
8. Nevada                           13
9. Fresno State                  11
 
Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Team                                     Points
1. New Mexico  (10)        100
2. Boise State (1)              90
3. Air Force                         77
4. Utah State                      67
5. Colorado State             63
6. Nevada                           61
7. San José State               46
8. Wyoming                        38                                          
9. Fresno State                  25                                          
10. San Diego State         20                                          
11. UNLV                             18