SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The first race for the 2026 Sacramento State cross country season will take place on Friday, Sept. 4, when the team makes the trip to the Bay Area for the USF Invitational. The men's 8K race will start at 2 p.m. with the women's 6K race taking place an hour later. Both events will be held in Golden Gate Park.
 
The Hornets have started their season at the USF Invitational the last three seasons. The women's team best finish came in 2024 when the team took third place. The men have finished seventh the last two seasons.
 
The women's team returns only three runners that competed in the meet last season comprised of Marina Lipary, Keira Quigley and Kate Sanders. Lipary led the trio with a time of 21:32.7 to rank second on the team and 13^th overall.
 
The Sacramento State men also return three student-athletes from last season's USF Invitational. Ryan Martin and Brandon Moreno finished 1-2 on the team with Martin taking 13^th overall in 25:09.0 and Moreno running 25:11.1 to place 21^st.
 
The field includes Stanford which won the NCAA West Regional a year ago at Haggin Oaks GC. CBU took sixth at the regional while USF was 11^th. CBU is the top returning team in the men's race as the Lancers finished in second place at the 2025 NCAA West Regional. Stanford was sixth while Cal, USF and Saint Mary's finished 13^th-15^th.
 
Teams
NCAA Div. I: California (m/w); CBU (m/w); Pacific (m/w); Sacramento State (m/w); San Francisco (m/w); San Jose State (m/w); Santa Clara (m/w); Saint Mary's (m/w); Stanford (m/w); UC Davis (m/w)
 
Others: American River (m/w); Cal Poly Distance Club (m); Cal State East Bay (m/w); Dominican (m/w); Jessup (m/w); Stanislaus State (m/w); UC Santa Cruz (m/w)
 
Sacramento State Entries
Men
Matthew Bertrand, Justin Catanach, Ryan Martin, Noah Mikusevich, Brandon Moreno, Thomas Rasner, Lucas Ruark
 
Women
Dakota Gibson, Lexie Gomez, Marina Lipary, Meg Moyer, Keira Quigley, Scarlett Riddle, Kate Sanders, Sara Thompson, Taylor Wellersdick