2026 Season Openers
Cross Country Programs Launch 2026 Seasons with Regional Competitions This Week
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Wright State’s Colonial Invitational will feature 12 teams, with the women racing a 6K at 8:30 a.m. and the men an 8K at 9:15 a.m.; the Raiders’ next scheduled meet is the Live in Lou Classic on Oct. 3.
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Charlotte returns 34 runners—17 women and 17 men—including six athletes who competed at last year’s NCAA Southeast Regionals. The program also added five freshmen and has 20 upperclassmen across its two teams.
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Charlotte’s new head coach comes to the program from MIT, where he helped lead the Division III women’s cross-country program to two national championships.
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North Kingstown’s Lucy Stowe edged teammate Tighe by 8.2 seconds in the Injury Fund Carnival’s Roy Race after Tighe led for much of the course; the teammates have also helped form a four-time state-champion 4x800-meter relay group with Maura Whitney.
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Tighe said the North Kingstown runners’ close relationship is central to their success: “It doesn’t matter who’s first, who’s second, or whatever – we just love running together,” she said. Los Altos, meanwhile, has the school’s second-largest sports team this season, behind track and field, with 135 runners.
Cross-country teams across the country are ramping up their 2026 seasons this week with high-stakes competition. Bowie State, Wright State, and Charlotte are all fielding experienced squads that aim to build on strong regional performances from last year, while smaller programs like North Kingstown continue their winning traditions with tight-knit runner groups.
Meanwhile, TCNJ Athletics reported that the women's cross-country team began their season with a second-place finish at the Herb Lorenz Invitational, while Penn State hosted the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational, where multiple teams competed for early-season positioning.
Wright State and Charlotte Open with Experienced Rosters
Wright State will compete in the Colonial Invitational hosted by Robert Morris this week. The 12-team event features women racing 6K at 8:30 a.m. and men racing 8K at 9:15 a.m. The Raiders' next scheduled meet is the Live in Lou Classic on October 3.
Charlotte enters with 34 returning runners—17 women and 17 men—plus five freshmen and 20 upperclassmen. Six of those athletes competed at last year's NCAA Southeast Regionals. The program's new head coach comes from MIT, where he led the Division III women's program to two national championships.
North Kingstown's Trio Dominates Roy Race with Close Finish
At the Injury Fund Carnival, North Kingstown's Lucy Stowe narrowly edged teammate Tighe to win the girls' Roy Race. Stowe's victory came by just 8.2 seconds, after Tighe had led for much of the course. The two runners are part of a four-time state-champion 4x800-meter relay group with Maura Whitney.
"It doesn't matter who's first, who's second, or whatever – we just love running together," Tighe said about the North Kingstown trio's success. The runners' closeness and shared commitment appear central to their ability to compete at the highest state levels.
Bowie State Eyes Championship Competition at Delaware State
Bowie State's men's and women's teams will race Friday at the Delaware State Invitational in Dover. Both squads are building on last season's regional performances as they work toward championship-level competition later in the season.
The program is drawing on experienced talent to make a strong push through the fall schedule.
Los Altos Enters Season with School's Second-Largest Roster
Los Altos High School begins its season with 135 runners, making cross-country the school's second-largest sports team behind track and field. The program brings confidence from last year's girls team, which won CCS Division I and advanced to the state championships.
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