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USTFCCCA Rankings

Cross country recognized regionally, nationally in USTFCCCA polls

10/19/2022 12:44:00 PM

By: Angela Roberts, Assistant AD - Communications
NEW ORLEANS, La. – After a historic outing in California, the Fort Lewis College men's and women's cross country teams are enjoying regional ranking nods in the week five version of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Coaches' Poll.

In addition to the regional recognition, the women's team is receiving votes in the national poll (link) for the first time since the 2017 season 2017.

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.

The men's team breaks into the regional ranks at No. 10 after a notable showing at the Highlander Invitational last week. Fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) opponents Colorado School of Mines and Adams State lead the way at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. The conference is well-represented throughout the remainder of the poll, earning spots at No. 3 (Colorado Christian), No. 4 (Western Colorado), No. 5 (UCCS), No. 7 (CSU Pueblo), and No. 9 (Colorado Mesa).

At the Highlander Invitational, the men's team finished in 10th place with 252 points and averaged a time of 25:04 for the race. The team average is a significant improvement on the group's 29:00 mark last week and the 26:07.7 mark at the Roadrunners Invitational in mid-September. Fort Lewis finished directly ahead of San Diego Mesa College, Central Arizona, Mesa CC, and San Diego with a 1:37 spread.

Ethan Bartlett returned to the course and made his presence known and led the group with a 15th-place finish at 24:11.5. His time establishes a school record, bettering a time of 24:13.2 from Christian Gering set in 2014.

The women's team rejoins the regional ranks at No. 9 after originally breaking into the poll at No. 10 in week two. Much like the men's poll, the top 10 is littered with squads from the RMAC roster. Adams State ranks first, followed by Colorado School of Mines (No. 2) and UCCS (No. 3). From there, it's Western Colorado (No. 5), Colorado Christian (No. 6), CSU Pueblo (No. 7), and Black Hills State (No. 10).

The Skyhawks benefitted from an elite showing at the Highlander Invitational where the team finished in 10th place with 279 points and an average time of 21:58. Fort Lewis came in ahead of UC Santa Barbara, Embry-Riddle, San Diego, and CSUSB in the field of 25 teams. Katie Fankhouser continued her dominant junior campaign with a 15th-place finish at 20:48.4—establishing a school record along the way. The Colorado native knocked off Emily Roser who ran a time of 21:10.6 in Pensacola, Florida in 2006.

The weekend's success has propelled the women's team into the national spotlight where the Skyhawks are receiving votes just outside the top 30.

Fort Lewis has a couple of weeks off before toeing the line at Hillcrest Crest Golf for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships. The men's 8k will begin at 10:40 a.m., followed by the women's 6k at 11:30 a.m.
 
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