NEW ORLEANS – The Fort Lewis College men's and women's cross country programs continue to establish themselves among the nation's best, with both teams ranked No. 13 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II National Coaches' Polls, released Wednesday afternoon.

The Skyhawks women's squad made one of the week's notable climbs, jumping seven positions from No. 20 to No. 13 nationally. Meanwhile, the men's team slipped just one spot from No. 12 to No. 13, maintaining its place among the nation's top 15 programs.

Both teams remain firmly entrenched in a competitive South Central Region, which features some of the nation's highest-ranked programs, including several Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) opponents.

On the women's side, Adams State maintained the nation's top ranking, followed by No. 3 Colorado School of Mines and No. 5 Western Colorado. UCCS checked in at No. 7, while Colorado Christian moved into the No. 12 position, one spot ahead of Fort Lewis. Additional conference representation included No. 19 Colorado Mesa and No. 21 Black Hills State.

The men's national poll was similarly dominated by RMAC programs, with Colorado School of Mines holding the No. 2 position and Adams State ranked third. Western Colorado checked in at No. 9, followed by Fort Lewis at No. 13, UCCS at No. 14, Colorado Christian at No. 18 and CSU Pueblo at No. 28.

The latest rankings further highlight the strength of the RMAC as the conference prepares for the postseason, with both Fort Lewis programs positioned among the nation's top 15 heading into the final stretch of the regular season.