SEC Cross Country Championships to be held in Columbia, Missouri

The 2026 SEC Cross Country Championships will take place on Friday, October 30, at the Gans Creek Course in Columbia, Missouri. Several nationally ranked teams are expected to compete, including Alabama (No. 4), Florida (No. 9), Arkansas (No. 7), and Tennessee (No. 18).

Alabama enters the meet looking to defend its men’s title, while the women’s team seeks its third championship in five years. Arkansas, which has won 29 SEC titles since joining the conference, aims to reclaim its dominance after placing fourth in 2025. Florida’s women’s team, ranked fourth nationally, will also look to secure its second consecutive team championship.

Mississippi State arrives in Columbia following three consecutive podium finishes in regular-season meets, though the team will be without Naomi Jepleting due to injury. The men’s 8,000m race is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. CT, with coverage provided by the SEC Network.