Cross Country Unveils 2026 Schedule
7/31/2026 5:00:00 PM | Cross Country
MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine cross country head coach Lauren Floris has announced the Waves' full 2026 schedule.Â
"This is going to be a great season," Coach Floris said. "The teams are looking really strong and I can't wait to see them continue to raise the level of our program. It's especially exciting that conference and regionals are both in-state this year, so if any fans are in the San Diego or Sacramento area it would be great to see them out on the courses!"
Pepperdine's distance runners will compete in seven races this year, consisting of five in the regular season and two postseason events.
The team returns to the course on Sept. 4 for the annual Waves Invitational, hosted at the on-campus Alumni Park. The first race is set for 9:00 a.m. PST that Friday.
Following the home event, the Waves will head east to Riverside for the Riverside Invitational on Sept. 19 at 7:15 a.m. PST. After a stop in Santa Clarita for the Masters Invitational (Oct. 3 at 8:00 a.m. PST), the orange and blue head back to the Inland Empire for the Highlander Invitational, set for Oct. 17 at 8:00 a.m. PST, though the Waves will be competing with a partial squad. On the same date other runners will compete at the Bronco Invitational, hosted by Santa Clara University in Sunnyvale, at 10:00 a.m. PST.
From there postseason begins, starting with Oct. 30's WCC Championships in San Diego and continuing on Nov. 13 with the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento. The final scheduled meet will give Pepperdine's runners a chance to become the first in program history to qualify for NCAA Nationals. The times for these meets will be announced at a later date.
2026 Schedule
Sept. 4 — Waves Invitational (Malibu, Calif.) 9:00 a.m. PST
Sept. 19 — Riverside Invitational (Riverside, Calif.) 7:15 a.m. PST
Oct. 3 — Masters Invitational (Santa Clarita, Calif.) 8:00 a.m. PST
Oct. 17 — Highlander Invitational (Riverside, Calif.) 8:00 a.m. PST
Oct. 17 — Bronco Invitational (Sunnyvale, Calif.) 10:00 a.m. PST
Oct. 30 — WCC Championships (San Diego, Calif.) TBD
Nov. 13 — NCAA West Regional (Sacramento, Calif.) TBD
ABOUT PEPPERDINE CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK
The Pepperdine cross country/track program has a rich history dating back to the 1950s with six total individual national championships to come through the program. As one of the original three programs sponsored by then George Pepperdine College in 1937, the Waves immediately began to make a mark on the track world stage with eight total Olympians and multiple regional champions throughout the program's history.Â
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FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine cross country/track news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineXCTR.
"This is going to be a great season," Coach Floris said. "The teams are looking really strong and I can't wait to see them continue to raise the level of our program. It's especially exciting that conference and regionals are both in-state this year, so if any fans are in the San Diego or Sacramento area it would be great to see them out on the courses!"
Pepperdine's distance runners will compete in seven races this year, consisting of five in the regular season and two postseason events.
The team returns to the course on Sept. 4 for the annual Waves Invitational, hosted at the on-campus Alumni Park. The first race is set for 9:00 a.m. PST that Friday.
Following the home event, the Waves will head east to Riverside for the Riverside Invitational on Sept. 19 at 7:15 a.m. PST. After a stop in Santa Clarita for the Masters Invitational (Oct. 3 at 8:00 a.m. PST), the orange and blue head back to the Inland Empire for the Highlander Invitational, set for Oct. 17 at 8:00 a.m. PST, though the Waves will be competing with a partial squad. On the same date other runners will compete at the Bronco Invitational, hosted by Santa Clara University in Sunnyvale, at 10:00 a.m. PST.
From there postseason begins, starting with Oct. 30's WCC Championships in San Diego and continuing on Nov. 13 with the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento. The final scheduled meet will give Pepperdine's runners a chance to become the first in program history to qualify for NCAA Nationals. The times for these meets will be announced at a later date.
2026 Schedule
Sept. 4 — Waves Invitational (Malibu, Calif.) 9:00 a.m. PST
Sept. 19 — Riverside Invitational (Riverside, Calif.) 7:15 a.m. PST
Oct. 3 — Masters Invitational (Santa Clarita, Calif.) 8:00 a.m. PST
Oct. 17 — Highlander Invitational (Riverside, Calif.) 8:00 a.m. PST
Oct. 17 — Bronco Invitational (Sunnyvale, Calif.) 10:00 a.m. PST
Oct. 30 — WCC Championships (San Diego, Calif.) TBD
Nov. 13 — NCAA West Regional (Sacramento, Calif.) TBD
ABOUT PEPPERDINE CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK
The Pepperdine cross country/track program has a rich history dating back to the 1950s with six total individual national championships to come through the program. As one of the original three programs sponsored by then George Pepperdine College in 1937, the Waves immediately began to make a mark on the track world stage with eight total Olympians and multiple regional champions throughout the program's history.Â
Â
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine cross country/track news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineXCTR.
