NAU Men's and Women's Cross Country Squads Ranked in USTFCCCA Preseason Regional Rankings

NEW ORLEANS, La. (August 26, 2019) - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its 2019 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Preseason Regional Rankings on Monday morning. The Lumberjack men took the top spot in the Mountain Region for the 22nd consecutive week, with the NAU women being projected as the sixth best team in the region entering the 2019 campaign. 

The USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Coaches' Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams' strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. Teams with provisional status within the region may be ranked.

The NAU men might have lost three of their top runners from last year's regional-winning and national title-winning team, but return three of its six All-Americans from 2018 in Geordie Beamish, Blasie Ferro and Luis Grijalva. Last year Ryan Raff also ran at nationals as a true freshman and will be returning for 2019. Runners such as Brodey Hasty, Theo Quax and Mitchell Small are sure to see an increase in time out on the course as well in 2019.

BYU placed second in the regional rankings, with Colorado and Colorado State taking the three and four spots. Six other Big Sky Conference schools were featured in the preseason rankings with last year's conference runner-up Southern Utah coming in at no. 7. Weber State (no. 9), Montana State (no.11), Idaho State (no. 12), Northern Colorado (no.13) and Montana (no.15) were among the other schools to receive a place in the Mountain Region's men's rankings.

On the women's end of things the Lumberjacks came in at no. 6., resulting in them receiving the highest spot among Big Sky Conference schools. NAU will see the return of both Miranda Myers and Mikayla Malaspina this fall after redshirting in 2018. Villanova transfer Taryn O'Neill is also expected to make a huge impact on the 'Jacks roster. The depth of the 2019 crew also features a stacked junior class.

Three other Big Sky schools made it into the first rankings of the year. Southern Utah came in at no.10, with Weber State (no.12) and Montana State (no.13) rounding out the Big Sky teams.

On August 27 the USTFCCCA will release its 2019 National Coaches Poll. In just under two weeks the Lumberjacks will be racing at Buffalo Park in front of a Flagstaff home crowd at the George Kyte Classic on Sept. 7.

USTFCCCA MEN'S MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. NAU
2. BYU
3. Colorado
4. Colorado State
5. Wyoming
6. Air Force
7. Southern Utah
8. Utah State
9. Weber State
10. New Mexico
11. Montana State
12. Idaho State 
13. Northern Colorado
14. Utah Valley
15. Montana

USTFCCCA WOMEN'S MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. New Mexico
2. Colorado
3. BYU
4. Utah
5. Air Force
6. NAU
7. UTEP 
8. Utah State
9. Colorado State
10. Southern Utah
11. Nevada
12. Weber State 
13. Montana State
14. Utah Valley
15. Texas Tech