ROCHESTER, Mich. – Head coach Paul Rice and the Men's and Women's Cross Country teams have announced their 2026 competition schedule, featuring five meets leading into postseason competition, including the home Golden Grizzly Open and a local meet hosted by Detroit Mercy.

"The 2026 Cross Country season will be very exciting! We love hosting meets, and it is a thrill to kick the season off at home," said Rice. "The meets close to home, like Detroit and WMU, allow us to get the season ramped up without too much wear and tear from travel. Notre Dame and Bradley will really help us get some great 'big meet' experience ahead of the postseason. We have a very talented group this year, and our coaching staff is very excited to work with them all and help them prepare to produce big results at the Horizon League Championships and NCAA Regionals. A lot of hard work is being put in this summer, and we can't wait to get things rolling."

The Golden Grizzlies open their season campaign on Friday, Sept. 4, by hosting the Golden Grizzly Open on the new course, across from the campus golf courses. Oakland returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 12, competing at Cass Benton Park in Northville, Mich., in a meet hosted by Detroit Mercy.

The Golden Grizzlies wrap up their September slate on Friday, Sept. 18, at Western Michigan with the women's 6k race followed by the men's 8k competition.

October begins with one of the premier meets in the Midwest as Oakland travels to the Joe Piane Invitational at Notre Dame on Friday, Oct. 2. OU wraps up the regular season on Friday, Oct. 16, at the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Ill.

Postseason competition begins on Saturday, Oct. 31, when the Golden Grizzlies travel to Clinton, Penn., for the Horizon League Championships, hosted by Robert Morris.

The NCAA postseason follows on Friday, Nov. 13, as Oakland will have a select few headed to East Lansing, Mich., for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, hosted by Michigan State.
 

How to Follow Oakland Cross Country/Track and Field: For complete information on Oakland Cross Country/Track and Field teams, follow the team on X at @OaklandTrackXC. The team is also on Instagram.