DENVER – With another challenging Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference campaign on the horizon, MSU Denver men's and women's cross country head coach Janis Christopher has announced the Roadrunners' 2026 competition schedule.

The seven-meet slate features four regular-season races before championship season begins, highlighted by the annual Roadrunners Invite at Washington Park and an NCAA Pre-Nationals appearance that will serve as the qualifier meet ahead of postseason competition.

The Roadrunners will open the season on Sept. 5 at the UCCS Rust Buster in Colorado Springs, returning to Monument Valley Park to begin another season against several familiar RMAC opponents.

MSU Denver then returns home two weeks later to host the Roadrunners Invite on Sept. 19 at Washington Park. The annual home meet provides the Roadrunners with an opportunity to compete in front of family, friends and supporters while showcasing one of Denver's premier cross country venues.

The schedule then shifts to one of the most important regular-season races of the year as MSU Denver heads to Lawrence, Kansas, on Oct. 11 for the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet at the historic Rim Rock course. The meet serves as the NCAA qualifier race and gives the Roadrunners an opportunity to preview both the national championship course and many of the top teams from across Division II.

The final tune-up before the postseason comes on Oct. 24 when MSU Denver returns to Monument Valley Park for the UCCS Open, providing one final opportunity to sharpen race strategy before championship season begins.

Roadrunners will once again navigate one of the nation's deepest conferences when the RMAC Championships are held Nov. 7 in Rapid City, South Dakota. The RMAC annually features several nationally ranked programs, making the conference championship one of the premier meets in NCAA Division II cross country.

Two weeks later, MSU Denver will compete at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships on Nov. 21 in Lubbock, Texas, where teams and individuals will battle for qualification to the NCAA Division II National Championships.

The 2026 season concludes Dec. 4 at the NCAA Division II National Championships, returning to the renowned Rim Rock Farm course in Lawrence, Kansas, where the nation's top programs will compete for a national title.

With a balanced schedule featuring familiar RMAC competition, a home meet in Denver and valuable postseason preparation at NCAA Pre-Nationals, Christopher and the Roadrunners will look to continue building toward another successful championship campaign in one of Division II's most competitive cross country conferences.

2026 MSU Denver Cross Country Schedule

• Sept. 5 – UCCS Rust Buster (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
• Sept. 19 – Roadrunners Invite (Washington Park | Denver, Colo.)
• Oct. 11 – NCAA Pre-Nationals (Lawrence, Kan.)
• Oct. 24 – UCCS Open (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
• Nov. 7 – RMAC Championships (Rapid City, S.D.)
• Nov. 21 – NCAA South Central Regional Championships (Lubbock, Texas 
• Dec. 4 – NCAA Division II National Championships (Lawrence, Kan.)