Tulane Hosts American Cross Country Championships

Saturday, October 31

New Orleans, LA

9:15 a.m. (W) | 10:00 a.m. (M)

Tulane University

American Conference Cross Country Championships

Photo by: Ken Fernandez

Oct 30, 2026 | Cross Country

By: Wyatt Streett

NEW ORLEANS – Halloween in the Big Easy is set to begin with a bang as Tulane plays host to the 2026 American Conference Cross Country Championships at Lake Oaks Park tomorrow. The Green Wave women are aiming to defend their title while the men seek to return to the pinnacle after finishing as last season's runner-up.

The meet will be streamed on ESPN+ with the telecast beginning at 9:00 a.m. The women's 6K race will start at 9:15 a.m. with the men's 8K race following at 10:00 a.m. The awards ceremony is set for approximately 11:00 a.m. All of the action takes place at Lake Oaks Park, the same site as Tulane's annual Battle for New Orleans. Parking and admission are free. Live results can be found here, and more information is available on the conference's championship central page, located here.

Both programs remain in the top three of their respective regional rankings as the men are currently ranked second in the south central region with the women tabbed at third. The men peaked at No. 22 in the national USTFCCCA poll earlier this season and spent two weeks ranked.

The Tulane women's squad is aiming to continue its budding dynasty, as the Green Wave has won two of the last three conference titles including last year's in Charlotte. Individually, Tulane has boasted two of the last three champions. The men were champions in 2024 before a runner-up placement last year. Bernard Cheruiyot claimed the individual title as well in 2024 as a freshman before also slotting second last season. Both of Tulane's teams were picked as the preseason favorite in the American coaches poll.

In the women's race, Tulane's lineup is expected to feature Isla Bulmer, Petra Dos Santos, Allison Hall, Haley Harper, Blezzin Kimutai, Morgan Matthews, Dorcas Naibei, Isabella Ramos, and Dana Rojas Vazquez. The men's team is expected to be represented by Bernard Cheruiyot, Micah Grossman, Timothy Kibet, Silas Kiptanui, Paul James Pam, Tommy Rice, Gilbert Rono, Cooper Sorsen, and Conner Wingfield.

Last time out the programs split with the Wave women racing in the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas, and the men competing in Terre Haute, Indiana, at the Under Armour Pre-Nationals. On the women's side, Tulane placed third in the deep 48-team field with a score of 136 as two Wave runners placed in the top 11, highlighted by Blezzin Kimutai in eighth (19:33.9). Petra Dos Santos was 11^th (19:38.9), and their times checked in at fifth and sixth, respectively, on Tulane's all-time leaderboard. The men's team placed 11^th in the 44-team Pre-Nationals field, which raced on the same course the national meet will take place. Silas Kiptanui kicked into high gear over the final 3K of the 8K race, breezing past seven other competitors to claim the individual title with a time of 23:17.4. Bernard Cheruiyot also finished in the top 10 with a time of 23:24.9 in seventh.

Kiptanui and Kimutai were named American Athletes of the Week for the respective showings. Kiptanui has claimed the honor twice this year, the first coming after his win in the Battle for New Orleans. Kimutai was the second Tulane women's runner to claim the honor this season after Dos Santos also took home the award following her win in the Battle for New Orleans. The conference has awarded eight total American Athlete of the Week honors this season, four each for the men and women, and Tulane has claimed half of them.

Postseason action continues with the NCAA South Central Regional on Friday, November 13. The meet takes place in College Station, Texas. The Tulane men are the defending champions after claiming the historic victory last year. The NCAA National Championships are set for Saturday, November 21, in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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Tickets for the football, volleyball and men's and women's basketball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

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