COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University women's cross country team was picked seventh while the Maverick men were tabbed eighth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Preseason Coaches' Polls that were announced by league officials on Thursday afternoon.
 
Maverick redshirt senior Megan Hodges was also named to the preseason all-conference team, which was announced in conjunction the polls.
 
The Mavericks are entering their second season under CMU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Travis Floeck.
 
CMU's women finished seventh at last year's RMAC Championships in Floeck's first year and went on to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships for the first time since 2014.  The Mavs return five of their seven national meet team members, including Hodges who finished 85^th overall as the Mavs' No. 2 runner.  The Aurora, Colorado native was one of the top 14 returning RMAC runners from that meet who were named to the Preseason All-RMAC team.
 
The Maverick men placed eighth at last year's RMAC Championships and return four of their seven runners from the RMAC Championships.
 
Defending NCAA Division II Champion Adams State topped the RMAC poll with 13 first place votes and 195 points, finishing ahead of the Colorado School of Mines (170) and CSU Pueblo (160), which received a first place vote.  Western Colorado, which also received a first place vote, and UCCS, were tied for fourth in the poll with 156 points.
 
Fort Lewis (122) was tabbed sixth just ahead of the Mavericks, who edged Colorado Christian (112) in the 15-team poll.
 
Mines, which won the men's national championship, topped the RMAC men's poll with 191 points and 11 first pace votes.  Adams State was second with 186 points and the other four first place votes.
 
Western Colorado (161), UCCS (156), CSU Pueblo (131), Colorado Christian (130) and Fort Lewis (124) were ranked third through seventh, respectively while the Mavs finished above MSU Denver (98), New Mexico Highlands (70) and the rest of the league.
 
The Mavericks will open their season at home, hosting the Gig Leadbetter Maverick Stampede on Friday evening, Sept. 5 at the Lincoln Park Golf Course.