Cross country invitationals to watch in 2024

It's almost time for the 2024 cross country season. Here's a look at invitationals and races you won't want to miss during the fall.

Season Openers

• Cowboy Preview | Aug. 30 | Host: Oklahoma State
• UCF Cross Country Invitational | Aug. 30 | Host: UCF
• Foothills Invitational | Aug. 30 | Host: Jacksonville State
• XC Opener | Aug. 30 | Host: Missouri
• The Cyclone Preview | Aug. 30 | Host: Iowa State
• Hawkeye Invite | Aug. 30 | Host: Iowa
• UCA Bear XC Invitational | Aug. 31 | Host: Central Arkansas
• BC Duals | Sept. 6 | Host: Boston College
• J.K. Gold Classic | Sept. 7 | Host: Wichita State

The 2024 cross country season kicks off the final weekend of August. There are too many meets to count this week, as some teams will race time trials against their teammates on their home courses while other teams will face new competition for the first time. Meets like the BC Duals and J.K. Gold Classic will also serve as season openers for teams the following weekend as colleges knock the rust off from the offseason.

STARPOWER: The history of the USTFCCCA’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year

Mid-September Meets

• Spiked Shoe Invitational | Sept. 13 | Host: Penn State
• Fighting Illini Big Ten Preview | Sept. 13 | Host: Illinois
• Texas A&M Invitational | Sept. 13 | Host: Texas A&M
• Virginia Invitational | Sept. 14 | Host: Virginia
• Roy Griak Invitational | Sept. 20 | Host: Minnesota
• John McNichols Invitational | Sept. 21 | Host: Indiana State

Classic NCAA cross country meets like the Spiked Shoe Invitational, Roy Griak Invitational and John McNichols Invitational put beautiful courses on display and give fans a first look at some great head-to-head races this fall.

Nutty Weekend

• FSU Pre-Regional | Sept. 27 | Host: Florida State
• Cowboy Jamboree | Sept. 28 | Host: Oklahoma State
• Gans Creek Invitational | Sept. 27 | Host: Missouri
• Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational | Sept. 27 | Host: Wisconsin

The Nuttycombe Invitational is earlier on the calendar than in past years, but its importance remains. Wisconsin, the host of the Nutty, also hosts this year's cross country national championships at Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course. Eight of the last 18 DI cross-country champions (excluding the pandemic-altered 2020 season) across genders have won the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational during the same year.

The Cowboy Jamboree and Gans Creek Invitational also figure to have team and individual title contenders during September's final weekend.

NUTTY: Nuttycombe champions who won the NCAA cross country title the same year

Early October Meets 

• Joe Piane Invitational | Oct. 4 | Host: Notre Dame
• Paul Short Invitational | Oct. 5 | Host: Lehigh
• FSU Invite | Oct. 11 | Host: Florida State

Action in NCAA cross country continues in early October, with Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational always being one to watch. The Paul Short Invitational may bring some of the spotlight to the East Coast too, as some competitive finishes could be in store.

Final Regular Season Week

• Crimson Classic | Oct. 18 | Host: Alabama
• IC4A/ECAC Championships | Oct. 18 | Host: Van Cortland Park
• Bradley Pink Classic | Oct. 18 | Host: Bradley
• Arturo Barrios | Oct. 18 | Host: Texas A&M
• Panorama Farms Invitational | Oct. 19 | Host: Virginia
• Weis-Crockett Invitational | Oct. 19 | Host: Oklahoma State
• Wisconsin Pre-Nationals | Oct. 19 | Host: Wisconsin

The regular season concludes on the weekend of Oct. 18 for most programs. The final regular season weekend will see teams run at courses that they'll again run at in the postseason, whether it be conference, regionals or the national meet.

WINNERS: Here are the DI cross country teams with most NCAA championships

Postseason

Below, you'll find the dates for all of the championship cross country races once the regular season concludes.

Conference championship weekend | Nov. 1-2

Regional Championships | Nov. 15

• Great Lakes: Mid-American Conference (Greater Cleveland Sports Commission)
• Mid-Atlantic: Penn State
• Midwest: Bradley
• Mountain:  Nevada (Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority)
• Northeast:  Boston College & UMass-Lowell
• South: Florida State
• South Central: Texas A&M
• Southeast: Winthrop (Visit York County)
• West: Washington State

FUTURE: Here are the future cross country regional championship sites

National Championships | Nov. 23

• Host: Wisconsin