COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Columbus State University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams have announced their 2026 schedules as head coach Xavier Matthews prepares for his fourth season leading the Cougar programs.
Both teams will open the season on September 5 at the Julius Johnson Invitational in Macon, Georgia, before traveling to Albany, Georgia, for the Willie Laster Cross Country Invitational on September 11.
The Cougars return to the UNG XC Invitational on September 18 after both programs competed in the meet last season. The men's team placed fifth out of 12 teams, while the women's squad finished eighth out of 16 teams. Columbus State will then head to Atlanta, Georgia, to compete in the Georgia Tech Invitational on October 2.
The postseason begins with the Peach Belt Conference Championship on October 24 in Macon, Georgia, before both teams conclude the season at the NCAA Southeast Regional on November 21 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The men's team enjoyed several strong performances during the 2025 season, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the CAU Panther Invitational and a third-place showing at the VSU Border Clash. The Cougars also earned four Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team selections.
"Veterans James Harrelson and Logan Terwilliger will lead the charge for our men's XC team," said Matthews. "Shaun Williams, Moses Adams and Alan Pacheco are some new faces that will surprise many teams in the Peach Belt Conference."
Harrelson and Terwilliger return to lead a men's squad that features added depth and experience heading into the 2026 season.
The women's team was highlighted by a winning performance at the CAU Panther Invitational, capturing the team title during the 2025 season. The Cougars also earned one Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team selection.
"We have a lot of returners on both sides," said Matthews. "Layla Albright, Anna Norton, and Emmalee Johnson will continue to lead the charge as upperclassmen. Hadiya Ali and Alaiya James will bring an added spark and depth to our women's XC roster as well."
The 2026 season will mark the final cross country campaign for seniors Layla Albright and Anna Petallar.
"Layla Albright and Anna Petallar will be graduating this fall, so I plan to send them off with a bang!" Matthews said.
Both teams enter the season with a blend of youth and experience.
"This season will definitely be different for us," Matthews said. "Both teams are relatively young, so they'll get to grow and develop in unison. Both teams have more depth and experience. I'm confident we'll have a healthy, fun, and successful season this year."
