University of Wyoming cross country teams begin an odd season with stiff competition
LARAMIE, Wyo. (BVM) — An oddity for many, the collegiate cross country season is occurring at the beginning of the calendar year instead of its usual fall season. For the Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls, the season is shortened and spread out. Originally, all that was known was that there would be discussions about rescheduling.
According to the Mountain West Conference’s Aug. 10 press release, all fall sports had been canceled. Some sports were able to begin later in the fall, such as football, but some seasons hung in the balance of reinstatement.
Wyoming ended up beginning its cross country season early in 2021. The first meet was a dual meet against Colorado State on Jan. 23 in Cheyenne.
The women’s and men’s teams both lost the dual, but both had some of its stars shine in the 6,000-meter races.
Junior Katelyn Mitchem took fourth in the women’s race with a time of 21:30.4. The next Cowgirl across the line was junior Kaylee Bentley at a 22:23.6 for a tenth-place finish.
Redshirt freshman Seth Bruxvoort took fourth in the men’s race with a time of 18:22.6. Sophomore Albert Steiner was next Cowboy to finish at 13th at 18:55.4.
The Cowboys began the season ranked No. 38 in the National Coaches Poll on Oct. 27. In its latest release of week four rankings, Wyoming is ranked 36. The Cowgirls have been unranked nationally throughout the season.
The women’s team is also ranked No. 14 in the Mountain West Conference’s first rankings of the season. The men are currently ranked No. 11 in the Mountain West with six other Mountain West teams being ranked in the top 30 nationally.
Scott Dahlberg is beginning his fourth season as head coach for the cross country teams. In 2018, he led the Cowboys to the NCAA National Championships for the first time since 1986. That season they were ranked No. 13 in the nation and placed 12th in the national championships.
Dahlberg has also coached a previous Mountain West Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year: Paul Roberts in 2018.
Under this coaching staff, there have been several additions to the top of the school record boards in indoor track and field. Henry Ewing and Michael Downey added their names to the fastest 3,000-meter times, second and fourth all-time respectively. Kacey Doner also added her name to the record board as the fourth-fastest 3,000-meter time in Wyoming history.
Both teams will travel to race at the UNLV Cross Country Invitational on Feb. 19. That race will conclude the Cowboys and Cowgirls regular season meets. The teams will look forward to March 5 for the Mountain West Championships being held in Las Vegas.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the normal regional qualifiers will not be held. The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country Committee will select teams to race at the national championship with conference championship performances being weighted the most.
Pending the results of the conference championships, the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championship will be held March 15 in Stillwater, Okla.
