Western State College of Colorado

GUNNISON, Colo. – Since 1986, the national cross country championships have been a staple for the Western State cross country program. Although never a guarantee for any program to advance to the national championships, both Mountaineer teams will make their 24th straight trip to nationals since 1986 when they travel to Evansville, Ind., this weekend.

The men, the two-time defending national runner-up, enter as the second-ranked team in Division II by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches. The Mountaineers haven’t finished lower than fifth at the national meet in 18 seasons. Western State has won eight national championships, including six national titles during a seven-year span from 1999-2005. The Mountaineers have also placed second six times and third three times.

The Western State men have collected an even 100 All-America titles between 53 runners, and two national individual titles. Michael Aish, a member of the RMAC All-Century team, won those back-to-back national titles in 1999 and 2000.

The women enter Evansville, Ind., with No. 7 national ranking, a seven-position improvement from the week before the RMAC Championships. With the exception of 2007, the Mountaineers have finished on the podium at the end of the season 19 times since 1989, with four national titles in that span. The women won back-to-back-to-back titles with the men from 2000-02 and finished runner-up 10 times. Since the RMAC moved up to Division II in 1992, Western State and rival-Adams State are the only teams to win the national women’s title.

Elva Dryer is the only multiple individual national champion for the women with titles in 1993 and 1994, although three other Mountaineers have won national titles. Tuma Urio made it three straight individual championships for Western State with her victory in 1995 and Hannah Lawrence won her title in 2001. Esther Komen is the most recent individual champion with her win in 2006.

Thirty-nine Mountaineer women have combined for 67 All-America titles since the first All-American in 1985.

Both Western State teams will arrive in Evansville, Ind., Thursday evening before previewing the course Friday morning. Championship races begin at 11 a.m. MST with the women’s six-kilometer run, followed by the men’s 10-kilometer run at noon MST.