One sign the Mesa State’s women’s cross country program has arrived: The Mavericks are picked third in the RMAC preseason coaches poll behind national powers Adams State and Western State. The Grizzlies received 12 of the 13 first-place votes, Western got the other first-place vote.

Mesa State, led by All-American Alexis Skarda, finished third in the conference last season and runs in its first event Sept. 17, the Tom Strandt Memorial Run in Durango. The Mavs are ranked sixth in the Central Region.

Only a few years ago, the Mavs were unable to score as a team because they didn’t have enough runners. This season’s roster is 17 strong, in part bolstered by the addition of the track program, entering its sixth year.