COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University men's and women's indoor track and field teams were both picked fifth in the 2025-26 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Preseason Coaches' Polls, which were announced by conference officials on Thursday.
The Maverick women picked up four third place votes and finished with 142 total points in the 15-team poll. They took third at last year's RMAC Championships and return 14 point scorers, including
Jordan Burnett, the Mavs' lone selection to the Preseason All-RMAC team, which was is made up of the top returning athlete in each event based on the 2025 NCAA and RMAC Championship efforts.
Burnett, a redshirt senior from Fairplay, Colorado, won the 400 meters at last year's RMAC Indoor Championships.
Double silver medalist and 200-meter NCAA Championship qualifier
Gaby Horton also returns for her senior season.
The Colorado School of Mines, which has won the last three RMAC indoor titles, was picked first in the poll with 188 points and received five first place and eight second place votes. UCCS received a league-leading eight seven first-place votes and was a close second in the overall poll with 184 points. The Mountain Lions were named in the top three on 12 ballots.
Adams State was picked third with two first place votes and 154 total points while New Mexico Highlands was just ahead of the Mavs in the No. 4 position with 145 points.
The Mavs were ahead of Western Colorado (140), CSU Pueblo (128) and the other seven teams.
The Maverick men are coming off a sixth place finish at the 2025 RMAC Indoor Championships and return all but four of their 41 total RMAC Championship points led by triple jump champion
Salem Brunk and NCAA long jump qualifier
Antone Higgs, who took second in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump at last year's RMAC Championships.
The Mav men totaled 100 points in the coaches' poll and were sandwiched in between CSU Pueblo (104) and Western Colorado (97). The Mavs claimed three first place votes.
Mines edged defending champion UCCS in the poll, 138-136 as both teams received six first place votes. Adams State picked up the other first place vote and finished third in the 13-team poll with 111 points.
The Mavericks will begin the season at this weekend's Western Colorado Open and Multi in Gunnison.
