On Tuesday, the U.S.  Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released the Preseason NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country National Coaches Poll. Colorado Christian is beginning to garner the national attention they deserve after a successful year last year which has earned them placement on the preseason polls. Here is how the rankings looked for both the Men and Women's sides.
 
Men:     A strong 2021 season capped with the first two All-Americans (Ryder Searle and Josh Pierantoni) in program history allowed the Cougars to finish the year ranked 10^th. As the preseason polls came out on Tuesday for the 2022 season, CCU was ranked 7^th nationally by the USTFCCA. The RMAC was well represented in the top 10 as Adams State (1^st), Colorado School of Mines (2^nd), Western Colorado (8^th), and UCCS (10^th) also earned a Top 10 ranking in the polls. CCU, which races out of the South Central Region, has been ranked third in the region only behind Adams State and Colorado School of Mines.
 
Women:     The women's Cross Country team also had a strong finish to the year as they were led to a 22^nd place finish at the NCAA National Championship led by All-American Paige Tack who became the first one in program history to garner the honor. The Cougars have been ranked 14^th nationally in the Cross Country National Coaches Poll and within the South Central Region they are ranked fifth. The RMAC is one of the fiercest conferences as four other schools each also earned a top 15 ranking (Adams State (1^st), Colorado School of Mines (4^th), UCCS (5^th), and Western Colorado (7^th).
 
Both teams are being anchored by returning All-Americans in Josh Pierantoni and Paige Tack. Another All-American will be racing for the women's team this year in Zanzie Demco. Demco is a graduate transfer from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and is a four-time Division III All-American and Conference Champion.
 
Head coach Jon Poag spoke about both teams preseason ranking by saying, "It is good to be recognized in this capacity, but I am always careful not to put too much stock into preseason polls. I am excited about the recognition for the men's and women's teams, they have earned it with their performances from last year, but a preseason ranking doesn't impact our day to day process. We will keep working hard and hope to earn another opportunity to compete at the National meet in December."
 
The Cougars are set to begin the 2022 season this upcoming weekend as they will travel to Boulder to compete in the Colorado Open hosted by the University of Colorado on Saturday September 2^nd with a start time of approximately 7AM. Stay tuned to CCUCougars.com for all of the results for this race, and throughout the season.