University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Unveil 2026 Cross Country Schedule
7/22/2026 9:31:00 AM | Cross Country
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt cross country team will open the 2026 season by hosting the annual Panther Opener at Schenley Park on Friday, Sept. 4. That is one of four regular season meets leading up to the ACC Championships and the postseason as announced today by Director of Men's and Women's Track & Field and Cross Country, Alonzo Webb, and Cross Country Head Coach, Griff Graves.
Pitt will open the season with the Panther Opener for the fifth straight year. The men's and women's teams have swept the team championships in each of the past four years. Pitt will then remain in Pennsylvania for the Spiked Shoe Invitational at Penn State on Friday, Sept. 11, before traveling to Lehigh for the Paul Short Run on Friday, Oct. 2.
The Panthers continue their regular season with the Pre-Nationals Invitational at Indiana State on Friday, Oct. 16, providing an opportunity to compete against many of the nation's top programs ahead of the postseason.
Postseason competition begins with the ACC Cross Country Championships at Virginia Tech on Friday, Oct. 30. Pitt will then return to Lehigh for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on Friday, Nov. 13, where the Panthers will compete for a bid to the NCAA Championships.
The season concludes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships at Indiana State on Saturday, Nov. 21, as the Panthers look to finish the 2026 campaign on the national stage.
