Preseason Polls: USTFCCCA | RMAC Men | RMAC Women 

GOLDEN, Colo. – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference both released their 2024 preseason coaches' polls for men's and women's cross country on Wednesday with Colorado School of Mines' appearing near the top of all four lists.
 
The USTFCCCA rankings placed the men of Mines #3 in the nation and the Oredigger women #14. Within the RMAC, Mines' men were picked to win a sixth consecutive title while the women came in at #2. Wingate and East Central represented #1 and #2, respectively on the men's national list. Adams State, Grand Valley State, and Western Colorado were #1, #2, and #3, respectively in the women's DII rankings. The conference coaches put the Mines men #1 with 12 out of 15 potential first-place votes for a total of 192 points. Adams State grabbed the other three first-place votes for 185 points at #2 and Western Colorado was voted #3. On the women's side, RMAC coaches provided the Oredigger women one first-place vote on the way to 176 points. Adams State was #1 thanks to the other 14 first-place votes at 196 points. Western Colorado slotted #3.
 
Mines earned its preseason classification on the merits of an outstanding 2023 campaign. The Oredigger men collected their fifth straight RMAC and South Central Region crowns before finishing as national runner-up at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships. Mines' women swept silver at the RMAC and regional meets before racing to historic national bronze. Three of four all-Americans return for the Oredigger men in 2024. The women bring back two individuals with all-America standing on the cross country course.
 
The Orediggers open their 2024 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Roadrunners Invitational hosted by MSU Denver at Washington Park.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines cross country on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @csmtrack. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.