COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released its 2026 Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll and Preseason All-RMAC Team on Thursday, with Adams State selected second in the conference. The Grizzlies received 189 points, finishing just one point behind preseason favorite Colorado School of Mines. Adams State earned seven first-place votes and seven second-place votes.
Along with being selected second in the preseason poll, the Grizzlies had four student-athletes named to the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Team, tying the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs for the most selections in the conference. Leading the way for the Grizzlies is reigning RMAC Runner of the Year and National Champion Tristian Spence, who returns for her senior season. Spence was joined on the Preseason All-RMAC Team by teammates Tanya Bouet, Keira Damron, and Claragh Keane.
Spence earned First-Team All-RMAC honors in 2025 after being named the conference's Runner of the Year. Damron and Keane were also Second-Team All-RMAC selections last season, while Bouet adds another experienced runner to an Adams State squad looking to build on last year's postseason success.
Adams State enters the 2026 season following a strong 2025 campaign in which the Grizzlies finished third at the RMAC Cross Country Championship before placing fourth at the NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championship.
Regarding the rest of the conference, Colorado School of Mines enters the 2026 season as the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll favorite, collecting eight first-place votes and six second-place votes for 190 points. The Orediggers are coming off an impressive 2025 season in which they captured the RMAC championship before finishing second at the NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championship.
UCCS was selected third in the preseason poll with 165 points, followed by Western Colorado in fourth with 158 points. Colorado Mesa and CSU Pueblo tied for fifth with 130 points apiece rounding out the top five in conference.
Following the top five is Fort Lewis in seventh with 126 points, followed by Colorado Christian with 100, MSU Denver with 92, and Black Hills State with 88 to round out the top 10. Chadron State was selected 11th with 56 points, followed by New Mexico Highlands with 48, Regis with 46, South Dakota Mines with 43, and Westminster with 14.
The Grizzlies will open the 2026 season at home on Saturday, September 12, at the 33rd Joe I. Vigil Open in Alamosa. The meet will be held at Cattails Golf Course, giving Grizzly fans their first opportunity to see the 2026 Women's cross country team in action. With the season coming up soon, the Grizzlies will look to use their experience and returning All-RMAC talent to compete for another RMAC championship and make another run at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
2026 Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Colorado School of Mines 190
2. Adams State 189
3. UCCS 165
4. Western Colorado 158
5. Colorado Mesa 130
CSU Pueblo 130
7. Fort Lewis 126
8. Colorado Christian 100
9. MSU Denver 92
10. Black Hills State 88
11. Chadron State 56
12. New Mexico Highlands 48
13. Regis 46
14. South Dakota Mines 43
15. Westminster 14
2026 Preseason All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference: Women's Cross Country
Player School Yr. Hometown
Tanya Bouet Adams State Gr. Tornac, Gard, France
Madison Brosig (2) UCCS 5th Greeley, Colo.
Keira Damron (2) Adams State Sr. Phoenix, Ariz.
Kate Henderson UCCS So. Albuquerque, N.M.
Claragh Keane (2) Adams State Sr. Wexford, Ireland
Emily LaMena (1) Colorado School of Mines R-Jr. Huntington, N.Y.
Carysa Marquez Fort Lewis So. Albuquerque, N.M.
Elizabeth McQuitty (1) UCCS So. Alamosa, Colo.
Callen Nash (1) Colorado School of Mines R-Sr. Tomball, Texas
Kseniya Nikanorov (1) UCCS 5th Castle Rock, Colo.
Tristian Spence (RotY, 1) Adams State Sr. Grand Junction, Colo.
Sierra Wall (FotY, 1) Colorado School of Mines R-Fr. Boulder, Colo.
Peyton Weiss (1) Western Colorado Jr. Milwaukee, Wis.
Lauren Willson (2) Western Colorado Jr. Round Rock, Texas
Symbols in parentheses are 2025 All-RMAC Recognitions: RotY – was the Runner of the Year; FotY1 – was the Freshman of the Year; 1-was a
First Team All-RMAC selection; 2 - was a Second Team All-RMAC selection.
