Northern Arizona University's men's and women's cross country teams opened their 2026 seasons on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the George Kyte Classic in Buffalo Park. The season opener in Flagstaff saw the Lumberjacks begin their pursuit of continued dominance in the Big Sky Conference and NCAA standings.
Historical Dominance at Buffalo Park
The George Kyte Classic served as the first of two home meets for the Northern Arizona programs this season. The event, held at Buffalo Park, saw the men's race covering 4.5 miles and the women's race covering 2.5 miles. The Lumberjacks entered the meet with significant historical momentum, having won 14 consecutive George Kyte Classic titles for the men and eight consecutive titles for the women.
National and Regional Rankings
Northern Arizona enters the season as a national powerhouse. According to Utah Tech University, the Lumberjacks men are ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 3 in the Mountain Region. The women's program holds a No. 8 national ranking and a No. 3 ranking in the Mountain Region. The Lumberjacks also enter the season as the preseason favorite in the Big Sky Conference, having won both the men's and women's conference championships in each of the last five seasons.
Looking Toward Championships
The Lumberjacks' coaching staff is looking toward a deep postseason, including the Big Sky Championships scheduled for Oct. 30 at Buffalo Park. Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jarred Cornfield noted that the start of the season is a highlight for the program and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the meet in memory of Dr. George Kyte. Cornfield also highlighted the emergence of a large freshman class this season.
Roster Development and Key Athletes
While the season began with several new faces, Cornfield indicated that some of the program's premier athletes will be held for later in the year. These include Hayley Burns, Carmen Cernjul, and Addy Ritzenhein on the women's side, while Ford Washburn, Rheinhardt Harrison, and Ethan Godsey will join the men's lineup later in the season.
Utah Tech Trailblazer Participation
The Utah Tech Trailblazers also participated in the meet, marking their third appearance at the George Kyte Classic in seven seasons of Division I competition. The Trailblazers' men's squad enters the season after being picked eighth in the Big Sky preseason coaches' poll, while the women's team was selected seventh. Despite these preseason rankings, the women's team garnered 60 points and the men's team registered 48 points, with both teams earning at least one first-place vote.
Trailblazer Roster Composition
The Utah Tech men's roster features eight returners and six newcomers, led by seniors Dennis Speaks, Ryan Hatch, Aiden Hardy, Collin Manning, and Joey Hartnett. Hatch was the team's top finisher in all six meets during the previous season. The women's roster includes nine returners and seven newcomers, led by fifth-year senior Makayla Pitcher, who was the team's top finisher at both the WAC Championships and the NCAA West Regional Championships.
Upcoming Trailblazer Schedule
Following the Flagstaff meet, the Trailblazers will travel to California to compete in the UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 19. Their October schedule includes the Southern Utah Color Country Invitational in Cedar City on Oct. 3, followed by the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational hosted by Indiana State on Oct. 16.
