ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams are set to open their 2026 campaign at home this Saturday when they host the CWU XC Opener.
The men's 5K race kicks things off at 9:30 a.m. with the women's 5K race following at 10:00 a.m. from the CWU Athletic Fields behind Nicholson and by the CWU Baseball Field and Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field.
The women's team who ranked second in the GNAC Preseason Poll and ninth in NCAA Division II West Region this week are returning a strong core headlined by sophomore
Maddy Harrison and junior
Payton Conover. Conover paced the 'Cats in the 2025 GNAC Championships with a 13th-place finish with Harrison immediately behind her in 14th-place. Harrison backed up her performance in the 2025 NCAA West Region Championships with a top-30 finish, placing 28th. The Women's squad welcomes X of newcomers this season as
Violet Gowdy from West Linn, Ore.,
Grace Grossman from Grand Junction, Colo.,
Audrey Lucas from Redmond, Wash., and
Teagan Pentz from Everett Community College all join the team for the 2026 season.
The CWU Men's Cross Country Team will look to replace a chunk of the 2025 roster with only sophomore
Weston Breen and junior
Charles Naught returning to the roster. Breen began his collegiate career last season with a meet victory in the CWU XC Open but was limited in the latter part of the season. Naught will look to build off a top-40 performance at the GNAC Championships, placing 38th overall. The Men's team welcomes
Sylas Allen from Vancouver, Wash.,
Cristian Rosca from Graham, Wash.,
Sam Wagner from Wenatchee, Wash., and
Chance Callinan from Orange Coast College.
ABOUT THE CWU XC OPENER:
The CWU Cross Country Teams will start their season hosting the CWU XC Opener on the campus of Central Washington University. The men's race will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the women's starting at 10:00 a.m. The race will be held on the CWU Athletic Fields where spectators can watch for free from various spots around the fields by Nicholson and the CWU Baseball Field where the race will happen. Spectators can park at Tomlinson Stadium, Nicholson Arena, or on 18th street.
Results will be posted and proved to TFRRS.org and Athletic.net following the conclusion of the race.
The teams will begin on the west side of the CWU Baseball Field and will wrap up on the east edge of Tomlinson Stadium.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will head east to participate in the WSU Cougar Classic hosted by Washington State University. The race will be hosted by Washington State University at the Colfax Golf Club in Colfax, Wash.
