MOSCOW, Idaho - Vandal Cross Country is gearing up for the postseason after wrapping up its regular season schedule in Lewiston two weeks ago. They will travel down to Flagstaff, Arizona for the 2026 Big Sky Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 30. The men's 8K race will begin at 10 A.M. MST / PDT, while the women's 5k will commence at 11 A.M. MST / PDT.
Both races will be held at Buffalo Park, with athletes from all eleven Big Sky schools present. Against these highly competitive teams, the Vandals will be racing with the goal of improving their team scores from last year. Live results will be available on AthleticLive once the meet begins.
HEAR FROM COACH
"We are very excited to compete this Friday at the Big Sky Cross Country Championships in Flagstaff. We have had a good year up to this point, but we now are entering the Championship portion of the season. Our training and focus has been geared towards performing our best at the Conference Championships. The Big Sky is an outstanding league, and we will have our share of challenges. Yet I know that we are in the best position, physically and mentally, to accomplish our goals. It will not be easy, yet we look forward to the opportunity."
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Idaho men have 10 athletes entered to represent the Black & Gold in Flagstaff. A few upperclassmen, like Tyler Graff and Zac Knapp, have experienced this championship environment several times, while freshmen Miles Lechtenberg and Koda Vandahlen are ready to take on their first collegiate postseasons. Knapp is coming in strong after a season best in Oregon earlier this month, being the first Vandal to finish that day. Graff, on the other hand, began his season with a personal record in September, aiming to begin his championship season with one too. Also making key contributions, both Lechtenberg and sophomore Evan Jones had a very strong meet nearly a month ago at the Whitworth Frank Knott Classic. They each secured personal bests and were the first two Idaho runners to cross the line, both hoping to finish out October just like it began.
Arizona is set to see nine Idaho women compete in the 5K this Friday. Two freshmen, Micah Redding and Kadance Holso, will be part of that count. Redding has competed in every meet for the Vandals this season, prepared to carry that experience into her championship run. Senior Mary Nakamura has also raced in all five competitions this year, gaining a personal best 5K time in Lewiston two weeks ago and a season-best 6K in Oregon a week before that. Another key athlete to consider going into Flagstaff is Constanze Paoli. While the senior has only raced in two meets this season, she's dominated both, earning gold in Montana and a personal best 6K in Oregon. Other runners to mention are juniors Alex Terry and Jesse Redding, who have become fairly familiar with the front of the pack this year.
UP NEXT
Continuing Idaho's postseason run, the 2026 NCAA West Regionals will be set in Sacramento, California on November 13.
FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date with Idaho Cross Country and Track and Field, follow the team on Instagram (IdahoTrack), X (IdahoTFXC), and visit govandals.com.
