AUBURN, Alabama—The Auburn cross country program’s 2026 schedule will include four regular season meets under first-year associate head cross country coach Kara Foster. Foster came to Auburn from Penn State where she directed the women’s cross country program to three consecutive team NCAA appearances.
The Auburn men return junior Nickson Chebii who qualified for the NCAA Championships and was the SEC runner up in 2025, while on the women’s side, seven veterans return for the Tigers.
For the fifth time in the last six years, the Tigers open their 2026 campaign on September 4 at the Foothills Invitational in Oxford, Alabama, at Choccolocco Park.
Following the season opener, the team will stay in-state at the Southern Showcase on September 18 in Huntsville at the John Hunt Cross Country Running Park.
The Tigers return to action on October 16 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the Crimson Classic, held at the Harry Pritchett Running Park.
Two weeks later, Auburn will compete in the Southeastern Conference Championships, at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on Friday, October 30, in Columbia, Missouri.
NCAA postseason action will kick off at the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Florida on November 13 at Apalachee Regional Park.
Should any Auburn team or individual qualify during the South Regional, they will advance to the NCAA Championships on November 21 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
2026 AUBURN CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
| September 4 | Foothills Invite | Oxford, AL | Choccolocco Park |
| September 18 | Southern Showcase | Huntsville, AL | John Hunt Cross Country Running Park |
| October 16 | Crimson Classic | Tuscaloosa, AL | Harry Pritchett Running Park |
| October 30 | SEC Championships | Columbia, MO | Gans Creek Cross Country Course |
| November 13 | NCAA South Regional | Tallahassee, FL | Apalachee Regional Park |
| November 21 | NCAA Championships | Terre Haute, IN |
LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course |