WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Cross Country head coach Tony Miller has released the 2026 schedule that is set to open on Friday, Sept. 4.
The Boilers’ 2026 slate features seven total meets with four staying in Indiana. Three of the meets will take place in Terre Haute, Indiana, which is the host site for the 2026 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Purdue will also travel to Chicago, East Lansing, Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin.
The schedule begins in Valparaiso, Indiana at the Winrow Valparaiso Open on Sept. 4 for its first of three meets in September. The first trip to Terre Haute for the John McNicholas Invitational (Sept. 19) and Chicago for the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational (Sept. 25) round out the opening month.
One final regular season meet takes place on Oct. 16 for the Pre-National Invitation in Terre Haute, before the Boilers compete at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships on Oct. 30 in Madison.
Postseason continues on Nov. 13 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in East Lansing before qualified Boilers conclude the season at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute on Nov. 21.
Douglas Buckeridge, a three-time Great Lakes All-Region and one-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree, headlines Purdue’s returners. He finished seventh at last season’s Big Ten Championships and is one year removed from finishing 43rd at the NCAA Championships in 2024, just three spots shy of All-American status. On the women’s side, Purdue is set to return all seven of its runners that participated in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet last season.
After the conclusion of the cross country season, Purdue looks ahead to the track & field portion of the 2026-27 season.
2026 Cross Country Schedule
Friday, Sept. 4 // Winrow Valparaiso Open // Valparaiso, Ind.
Saturday, Sept. 19 // John McNicholas Invitational // Terre Haute, Ind.
Friday, Sept. 25 // Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational // Chicago
Friday, Oct. 16 // Pre-National Invitational // Terre Haute, Ind.
Friday, Oct. 30 // Big Ten Cross Country Championships // Madison, Wis.
Friday, Nov. 13 // NCAA Great Lakes Regional // East Lansing, Mich.
Saturday, Nov. 21 // NCAA Cross Country Championships // Terre Haute, Ind.
