NEW ORLEANS, La. – Fort Lewis College cross country will open the 2026 season with both programs nationally ranked, highlighted by a program-record preseason ranking for the Skyhawks men, as announced in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason National Coaches' Polls.

The Fort Lewis men enter the season ranked No. 14 in NCAA Division II, marking the highest preseason ranking in program history. The Skyhawks women will begin the year at No. 17 nationally, continuing a stretch of national recognition for the program.

The rankings represent a significant jump from a season ago when Fort Lewis opened the 2025 campaign with the men ranked No. 28 and the women at No. 15. Both programs remained nationally ranked throughout portions of last season while competing in the talent-rich South Central Region.

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) is once again well-represented nationally, further emphasizing the strength of the conference and region entering the 2026 season.

Fort Lewis was also recognized in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Polls last month, with the men selected fifth and the women picked seventh. Sophomore Carysa Marquez earned a spot on the Preseason All-RMAC Women's Cross Country Team following a standout freshman campaign.

The Skyhawks will have a few additional weeks of training before making their season debut on Sept. 18 at the Texas Tech Open in Lubbock, Texas. The postseason begins with the RMAC Championships on Nov. 7 in Rapid City, South Dakota, followed by the NCAA Division II National Championship on Dec. 4 in Lawrence, Kansas.