COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo men's and women's cross country teams will line up for one of the most competitive meets in Division II this Saturday morning, as the ThunderWolves travel north for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships at North Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs. The women's 6-kilometer race is set to begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the men's 8-kilometer race at 8:35 a.m. in a staggered format.
For both programs, the RMAC Championships offer a critical checkpoint — but not necessarily the finish line. With the NCAA South Central Regional Championships looming just weeks away, most RMAC teams, including CSU Pueblo, view Saturday's race as a vital tune-up in their postseason journey rather than the ultimate prize. The conference meet is widely regarded as one of the deepest in the nation, a preview of what's to come at the regional and national levels.
Women Aim to Build on Historic Season
The CSU Pueblo women enter the weekend ranked No. 19 nationally and seventh in the South Central Region. The Pack are coming off a historic 2024 campaign that saw them finish third at the NCAA Division II National Championships — the best finish in program history. Under the guidance of head coach Matt Morris, the women have built a culture of consistency and depth, competing stride-for-stride with the nation's best.
The RMAC Championships are expected to be as competitive as ever, with four nationally ranked programs in the top 10 — Colorado School of Mines, Adams State, Western Colorado, and UCCS. For the ThunderWolves, the race presents an opportunity to fine-tune race strategy, build pack cohesion, and gauge where they stand heading into regionals.
Junior transfer Olivia Drodz has made an immediate impact in her first season with the Pack after arriving from Europe. The talented newcomer has adjusted quickly to RMAC competition, owning a 6K personal best of 21:28.9 and opening her campaign with a strong 18:24 over 5K at the Joe Vigil Open. Her maturity, international racing background, and steady presence have made her a key contributor in CSU Pueblo's lineup this fall.
Adding valuable experience to the women's group are veteran runners and returning members from last year's national championship squad, Camille Renou and Jadyn Herron. Renou, who ran 21:35 at nationals, brings championship-level composure and steady leadership, while Herron, who clocked 21:50 at last year's national meet, adds reliability and toughness to the team's core. Their experience at the highest level will be crucial as CSU Pueblo seeks to continue its ascent among the nation's elite.
For the women, Saturday's meet serves less as a chase for conference hardware and more as a measuring stick — another step in the pursuit of a return to the NCAA podium.
Eustace, Schweer and Sweepe Lead the Men's Charge
The CSU Pueblo men, coming off a 14th-place finish at last year's NCAA National Championships, enter this season's conference meet with a similar mindset — focused on improvement, rhythm, and peaking at the right time. The RMAC is arguably the toughest men's cross country conference in the country, featuring four top-10 nationally ranked teams: Mines, Adams State, Colorado Christian, and Western Colorado.
Leading the Pack is veteran Kameron Eustace, who has consistently set the tone for the ThunderWolves with his competitive edge and postseason experience. Eustace owns a season-best 8K time of 24:43.2, showing he's more than capable of mixing it up with elite company.
Freshman Caden Schweer has quickly risen as a promising contributor, clocking an 8K personal best of 25:32.7 this fall. His calm approach and ability to handle big-race pressure have made him a key piece of the Pack's depth.
Rounding out CSU Pueblo's top group is junior Jon Sweepe, a steady performer with championship experience. Sweepe owns an 8K personal best of 25:19 and helped the Pack to a third-place team finish earlier this season at the Joe Vigil Open, where he placed 21st individually.
For the men, Saturday represents more than a team score — it's a chance to sharpen tactics, test fitness, and prepare for the stage that truly defines their season: the NCAA South Central Regional Championships.
Course and Conditions
This year's RMAC Championships will be contested at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs, sitting at 6,109 feet of elevation. The course is composed of crushed gravel paths roughly 5–6 meters wide with grass start and finish areas. Runners will navigate upper and lower 2K loops — with the women completing a lower–upper–lower sequence for 6K, and the men adding an additional upper loop for 8K.
Fort Lewis standout Hannah Hartwell returns to defend her women's course record of 21:08, while UCCS alum Afewerki Zeru holds the men's record of 23:56, set in 2022.
With crisp fall air, fast footing, and altitude playing a factor, the meet will demand a mix of patience and power from every athlete in the field.
The Final Push
While the RMAC Championships showcase some of the strongest programs in the nation, the real goal for CSU Pueblo lies ahead. Both the men's and women's teams have their eyes set on the NCAA South Central Regional Championships — the gateway to another national appearance.
For the women, Saturday offers a chance to build confidence and continue the legacy of last year's third-place national finish. For the men, it's an opportunity to strengthen chemistry and momentum as they chase another top-15 showing on the national stage.
With Drodz, Renou, Herron, Eustace, Schweer, and Sweepe leading the way, and the Pack's focus squarely on postseason readiness, CSU Pueblo heads to Colorado Springs this weekend not just to compete — but to prepare for what comes next.
Words From Head Coach Matt Morris
"Our focus this time of year is always about progressing toward regionals and nationals," said Head Coach Matt Morris. "The RMAC is one of the toughest conferences in the country, and racing against this level of competition makes us better. We're not necessarily chasing a team trophy this weekend — we're chasing the kind of race execution that prepares us for when it matters most. Both squads have trained really well, and this will be a great test to see where we are heading into the championship stretch."
