Collegiate cross country teams head to Terre Haute for Pre-National Invitational

The Pre-National Invitational cross country meet is scheduled for Friday, October 16, at the Lavern Gibson XC Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. The event serves as a key competitive milestone for several collegiate programs preparing for postseason play.

Colorado State University will send 10 men and 10 women to the meet. The men’s team, recently led by Ryan Schumacher at the Gans Creek Classic, and the women’s team, paced by Ruby Schwelm, aim to test their lineups ahead of the Pac-12 Championships.

Purdue University will conclude its 2026 regular season at the invitational. The Purdue men’s team is led by Nerius White, who recently recorded the sixth-fastest time in school history. The women’s team, led by Lauren Pegher and Katherine Valentine, follows a strong performance at the Lakefront Invitational before heading to the Big Ten Championships in late October.