FARMINGTON, Utah (August 16, 2021) – On Monday, the Big Sky Conference released the Preseason Cross Country Coaches Poll, announcing both Northern Arizona teams as league title favorites.
In a unanimous decision, the conference coaches ranked the two-time defending league champions, NAU, first heading into upcoming the women's cross country season.
NAU claimed the Big Sky trophy last spring, scoring the lowest point total the league had seen since 2005 (27 points). The Lumberjacks have claimed four of the last five Big Sky titles, and a total of 21 since the conference added women's sports in 1988.
Following last year's league championships, the Lumberjack women's squad finished 11th at the NCAA National Championship, led by the Big Sky Individual Champion, Taryn O'Neill, who earned All-American honors with a sixth place finish.
While the NAU women received all 11 first-place votes, and the highest overall point total of 121, the Lumberjack men received the most total points (120) and 10 of the 11 available first-place votes.
Claiming four of the previous five NCAA National Championship titles, Northern Arizona men have been voted No. 1 in the Big Sky Conference ahead of the fall 2021 season.
However, the NAU men will not enter the fall campaign as the reigning Big Sky Conference champions, as Southern Utah claimed that title during the spring, therefore receiving the only first place vote that NAU did not.
Nevertheless, Northern Arizona men's cross country remains the team to beat historically, claiming 29 total conference titles, 17 of which were earned since the year 2000.
Although NAU did not clinch the trophy last year, Abdihamid Nur returns as the league's defending men's individual champion.
The season begins for the 'Jacks on Sept. 4 and conference championships are scheduled for Oct. 29. at Portland State.
Stay up to date with the Lumberjacks by following NAU Cross Country and Track & Field on Twitter and Instagram.
2021 Big Sky Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Northern Arizona - 121 (11)
2. Weber State - 104
3. Montana State - 93
4. Southern Utah - 89
5. Idaho - 79
6. Portland State - 57
7. Idaho State - 53
8. Montana - 52
9. Sacramento State - 33
10. Eastern Washington - 30
11. Northern Colorado - 15
2021 Big Sky Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Northern Arizona - 120 (10)
2. Southern Utah - 110 (1)
3. Weber State - 97
4. Montana State - 91
5. Portland State - 65
6. Idaho - 64
7. Idaho State - 59
8. Montana - 46
9. Sacramento State - 29
10. Eastern Washington - 28
11. Northern Colorado - 17
