Both Cougar Teams Picked No. 1

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--BYU was selected to win the 2007 Mountain West Conference championship in both men's and women's cross country in a vote by the league's coaches released Monday (August 20).

BYU collected five first-place votes and 25 total points to capture the top spot in the men's poll, while Air Force notched the remaining first-place vote and totaled 20 points to claim second place. Wyoming collected 14 total points to earn the third-place nod, followed closely by Colorado State and New Mexico (13 points apiece) tying for fourth. TCU finished sixth with five points.

The BYU women's team received seven first-place votes and gathered a score of 63 to capture the top position in the women's poll. Colorado State collected the remaining two first-place votes and was selected to finish second with 55 points. New Mexico claimed the third spot with 44 points, followed by Wyoming (43 points) in fourth, and TCU (30 points) in fifth. Air Force and Utah tied for sixth with 26 points each, while San Diego State (24) and UNLV (13) were picked eighth and ninth, respectively.

The BYU men collected their seventh conference crown in eight years in 2006 and went on to garner an 11th place finish at the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. The men's squad will be led by 2005 All-American Chandler Goodwin and junior transfer Stephan Shay. The BYU women won their eighth consecutive MWC title in 2006 and finished 22nd at the NCAA Championship. Amber Duffin and Amy Fowler will lead the BYU women's charge in 2007.

Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
Pl.Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. BYU (5)                25
2. Air Force (1)          20
3. Wyoming                14
4. Colorado State         13
   New Mexico             13
6. TCU                     5
Women's Cross Country Coaches Poll
Pl.Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. BYU (7)                63
2. Colorado State (2)     55
3. New Mexico             44
4. Wyoming                43
5. TCU                    30
6. Air Force              26
   Utah                   26
8. San Diego State        24
9. UNLV                   13