By the end of the 2011 men’s cross country season, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference had six teams ranked in the top 25 in the nation, and the women’s poll had a pair of teams and one receiving top-25 consideration.
Adams State won the men’s national championship.
Western State won the women’s national championship.
Welcome to the RMAC, Mark Dutro.
Fort Lewis College, behind its new head coach, Dutro, the former Durango High School head coach, was picked to finish eighth in the RMAC men’s preseason coaches’ poll and 13th in the women’s rankings.
Adams State received 10 of 13 possible first-place votes in the men’s rankings released Thursday. Western State received the other three and was picked to finish runner-up.
Colorado School of Mines, ranked fourth nationally at the end of the 2011 season, was picked to finish third in the conference.
Metro State, the 16th ranked team in the nation a year ago, was picked to finish fourth in the conference.
New Mexico Highlands, 21st in last year’s top 25, was picked to finish fifth.
UC-Colorado Springs, 15th in the final top 25, was picked to finish sixth in this year’s RMAC preseason poll.
The rest of the men’s rankings:
7. Black Hills State.
8. FLC.
9. Regis.
10. Western New Mexico.
11. Colorado Christian.
12. Chadron State.
13. Colorado Mesa.
Tabor Stevens, a sophomore from Canon City at Adams State, was named the RMAC Men’s Preseason Runner of the Year. He was the conference’s freshman of the year last season. He was the only unanimous selection.
The others on the preseason All-RMAC roster:
Sean Gildea, a senior at Colorado Mines.
Matt Daniels, a sophomore at Adams State.
Trevor Blackman, a junior at Western State.
Russell Drummond, a senior at Colorado Mines.
Derek Alcorn, a sophomore at Colorado Mines.
Andrew Roberts, a senior at Adams State.
Adams State, the third-ranked women’s team at the end of the 2011 season, received eight of a possible 14 first-place votes from the RMAC coaches, while defending national champion Western State received the other five and was picked to finish second.
Colorado Mines was picked third, and Metro State, which finished just outside of last year’s final top 25, was picked to finish fourth in the RMAC preseason poll.
Regis was picked fifth.
The rest of the women’s rankings:
6. UC-Colorado Springs.
7. Black Hill State.
8. New Mexico Highlands.
9. Colorado Mesa.
10. Western New Mexico.
T11. Colorado Christian and Chadron State.
13. FLC.
14. CSU-Pueblo.
Kelly Lamb, a junior from Creede at Adams State, was picked as the RMAC Women’s Preseason Runner of the Year. She finished fifth at nationals last year.
Lamb and teammate Alicia Nelson, a junior from Craig, were the only unanimous picks for the women’s preseason team.
The others on the preseason All-RMAC roster:
Sarah Lange, senior, Adams State.
Sophie McNeely, senior, Western State.
Melissa Roberts, sophomore, Adams State.
Lauren Martin, sophomore, Adams State.
Erin Curran, junior, Black Hill State.
FLC will start its season with an 8K at the Lobo Cross Country Invitational on Aug. 31 in Albuquerque.
