Utah State men's and women's cross-country teams have been picked 11th and 12th, respectively, in this year's preseason Mountain Region rankings.
The regional rankings were announced Monday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), as voted on by a single coach from each respective region.
Utah State enters its third season in the Mountain West, following a fifth-place finish by the Aggie men and a seventh-place finish by the Aggie women at the 2014 Mountain West Championships.
Four men's teams from the Mountain West join Utah State's men in the preseason rankings including New Mexico (fourth), Colorado State (fifth), Air Force (ninth) and Wyoming (10th).
On the women's side, five other Mountain West teams were ranked regionally. Utah State is joined by New Mexico (first), Colorado State (sixth), Wyoming (10th), Nevada (13th) and Air Force (14th).
USTFCCCA Region Cross Country Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning team strength with current season results in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Region Championships.
Utah State's cross-country teams begin the 2015 season by hosting the USU Invitational on the newly-named Steve and Dona Reeder Cross Country Course on Saturday, Sept. 5. This will mark the 11th-consecutive year Utah State has opened at home.
The Mountain West Championships will be hosted by Nevada on Friday, Oct. 30, at Montrêux Golf Course in Reno, Nevada.
The NCAA Mountain Region Championships will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Nov. 13 – eight days before the NCAA Championships in Louisville on Nov. 21.
Fans can follow Utah State's cross-country and track and field programs on Facebook at USUTrack.
Doug Hoffman is the associate athletic director for Utah State University Athletic Media Relations.