The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association ranked Mesa State 6th in the Preseason Cross Country poll. Last season, the Mavericks placed 7th in the NCAA Central Region Race. Defending National Champion Adams State was ranked 1st followed by Minnesota-Duluth, Western State, Augustana was 4th and University of Mary 5th. In the RMAC preseason poll, Mesa State was picked to finish 3rd behind powerhouses Adams State and Western State. Metro State was 4th with Colorado Mines and Ft. Lewis rounding out the top 6. Mesa State returns Junior All-American Alexis Skarda to its lineup along with Juniors Kelsey Follett, Brooke Bosman, and Cecilia Garcia. Key Newcomer Kenzie Grant will also look to help put the Mavericks in the National Race as a team for the first time in school history. The Mavericks will run their first race on Friday September 17th at the Tom Strandt Memorial Run.