DENVER - The Western Athletic Conference announced its men's and women's cross country pre-championship coaches polls, as voted on by the eight head coaches in the league. Utah Valley was selected as the favorite to win both the men's and women's championship.
On the men's side, Utah Valley has been regionally ranked in every USTFCCA poll this year and was picked as the favorite to win the conference championship. The Wolverines received six first-place votes and 36 points overall. Missouri-Kansas City captured second place with 27 points and one first place vote. Right behind the ‘Roos is Seattle U with 26 points. NM State was voted fourth with 23 points. Grand Canyon with 17 points and UT Rio Grande Valley with 11 points grab the fifth and sixth spots and Chicago State rounds out the men's poll with seven points.
For the women, Utah Valley, also regionally ranked in the USTFCAA poll, was picked as the favorite to win the conference championship with five first place votes and 47 total points. Seattle U was close behind, earning 43 points and two first place votes while Grand Canyon also received a first place vote and a total of 36 points. Missouri-Kansas City grabs the fourth spot with 32 votes. NM State with 26 points, UT Rio Grande Valley with 18 points and CSU Bakersfield with 15 points are fifth, sixth and seventh. Chicago State rounds out the women's poll at eighth place with seven points.
The 2015 Western Athletic Conference cross country championships will take place at Lakeside Park in Orem, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 31.
2015 Pre-Championship Men's Cross Country Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st-place votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Utah Valley (6) |
36 |
| 2 |
Missouri-Kansas City (1) |
27 |
| 3 |
Seattle U |
26 |
| 4 |
NM State |
23 |
| 5 |
Grand Canyon |
17 |
| 6 |
UT Rio Grande Valley |
11 |
| 7 |
Chicago State |
7 |
2015 Pre-Championship Women's Cross Country Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st-place votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Utah Valley (5) |
47 |
| 2 |
Seattle U (2) |
43 |
| 3 |
Grand Canyon (1) |
36 |
| 4 |
Missouri-Kansas City |
32 |
| 5 |
NM State |
26 |
| 6 |
UT Rio Grande Valley |
18 |
| 7 |
CSU Bakersfield |
15 |
| 8 |
Chicago State |
7 |