Cross Country 2026 season preview
The ‘Cats field both proven and promising talent in 2026.
Northwestern cross country is set to kick off its season with high hopes and a strong roster. The Wildcats finished 18th at the 2025 NCAA Championships, marking the program's best performance in recent years. They are currently ranked No. 11 in the Preseason National Coaches' Poll, joining three other Big Ten schools in the national rankings.
The returning team includes standout runners such as Skye Ellis and Jackie Holman, both of whom were USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region honors recipients last year. Ellis led the team at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with a 6k personal-best finish of 19:50.9, while Holman placed within NU's top five in both the 5,000m and 1,500m events.
The team also boasts new additions like Sophie Magson, Katie Clute, and Eliza Nicholson, who bring fresh talent to the roster. The 2026 season will begin at the Badger Classic in Madison, Wisconsin, followed by the John McNichols Invitational in Indiana, the Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, and the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison.
The season will culminate in the Big Ten Championships in Madison on October 30, the Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa, and the NCAA Championships at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, on November 21.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
