HARRISONBURG, Va. – Over the next few weeks, the EMU Athletics Communications Office will be unveiling schedules for the fall of 2026. Today, we take a look at the fall slate of meets for EMU Cross Country. Director of Cross Country, Track & Field and Triathlon Bob Hepler recently finalized a nine-meet schedule for the Royal runners.  

EMU XC commences their 2026 campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 1, with a short trip down Route 42 to the Eagle Cross Country Challenge, hosted by Bridgewater College. The Royals will then take their turn as the home team with the annual EMU Heritage XC Invitational on campus that Friday, Sept. 4.

Two weeks later, the Royals will travel to Charlottesville for the South Region Preview Meet on Saturday, Sept. 19, hosted by the University of Lynchburg at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va. The men's and women's teams will then split up for their next round of meets. On Friday, Sept. 25, the women will take a short drive up I-81 for the JMU Invitational at New Market Battlefield in New Market, Va. The following Saturday, Oct. 2, the men's squad will compete in the Richmond Invitational at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville, Va. After an off weekend, the Royals get back together for a final tune-up before the postseason in the South Region Showdown at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va., on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Then, on Halloween morning (Oct. 31), the Royals will put their fitness to the test against the best of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, competing in the ODAC XC Championships at Kernstown Battlefield in Winchester, Va. From there, EMU heads back to Panorama Farms for the NCAA DIII South Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 14. Finally, for any runners who qualify, the NCAA DIII XC Championships will take place at the Bill Huyck Championship Cross Country Course in Northfield, Minn., on Saturday, Nov. 21.

For a full rundown of the Royals' 2026 schedule, click here.

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