Utah Valley cross country was scheduled to begin its 2026 season on Friday, September 4, at the UVU Invitational held at Scera Park in Orem, according to a September 2 statement. The women's race was set to begin at 10 a.m. MT, followed by the men's race at 10:45 a.m. MT.
The women's roster includes returners Artana Nice, Elisabeth Ferrell, and Julie Moore, who previously placed 17th, 18th, and 31st at the WAC Championship. These athletes also placed 55th, 77th, and 112th at the regional championships. Other returning athletes include sophomores Olivia Larsen, Sophia Biesker, and Tori Stratton Benedict. Newcomers Caren Kipsirat and Reagan Doman, both regional qualifiers in outdoor track and field, joined the team in January. Kipsirat holds the school record in the steeplechase.
On the men's team, Sila Kiplagat returns following WAC Freshman of the Year honors and a 14th-place finish at the regional championships. Other returning men include Wyatt Mortensen, Porter Whitworth, and Alex Hartshorn, who placed 4th, 12th, and 13th at the WAC Championship, respectively. Jayden Fitzgarrald previously recorded the highest finish for the Wolverines on the men's side with a 50th-place finish at regionals. The men's squad also includes BYU transfer Mark Boyle.
Following the invitational, the Wolverines were scheduled to compete in the Beehive Invite hosted by the University of Utah on Thursday, September 10, at Sugarhouse Park. The men's race was scheduled for 10 a.m. MT, with the women's race following at 10:50 a.m. MT.
