DALLAS, Texas – Joining a conference filled with old friends and new faces, the Aggies find themselves in great company ahead of the 2023-24 academic year. CUSA released their preseason poll for men's and women's cross country on Thursday, picking the NM State women third and the men in fourth.
 
Last season, the Aggies sent eight student-athletes to the NCAA Mountain Regional while the women also picked up a bronze medal finish at the 2022 WAC Championships in Nacogdoches, Texas.
 
Middle Tennessee and fellow first-year member Liberty were projected to finish top two in the men's and women's divisions – Liberty was chosen to take first in the men's poll (five first-place finishes), while Middle Tennessee was named the preseason favorite on the women's side (five first-place votes.
 
Next Saturday, September 2, the Aggies will kick off their cross country season with a home meet, the 2023 Lori Fitzgerald Memorial Open. This is the first of four meets NM State will compete in before the CUSA Cross Country Championships, taking place October 28 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
 
CUSA 2023 Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
 
1. Middle Tennessee (5)
2. Liberty (4)
3. NM State
T4. FIU
T4. UTEP
6. Jacksonville State
7. WKU
8. Sam Houston
9. Louisiana Tech
 
CUSA 2023 Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
 
1. Liberty (5)
2. Middle Tennessee (3)
3. UTEP (1)
4. NM State
5. FIU
6. Sam Houston
7. WKU
8. Jacksonville State
9. Louisiana Tech
 
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