Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina cross country teams return to action close to home on Friday, while also getting a preview of the conference championship course. The Catamount men's and women's teams compete in the Tryon Collegiate Invitational for their third meet of the 2026 season. The meet begins on Friday evening with the women's 5K scheduled for an 6 p.m. start, followed by the men's 8K race slated for 6:40 p.m. at the Tryon International Equestrian Center Cross Country course.
Fridays Meet: Tyron Fall Collegiate Invitational in Mill Spring, N.C.
Women's 5K: 6:00 p.m.
Men's 8K: 6:40 p.m.
The Catamount men look to build on their strong performances at the Southern Showcase, where Western Carolina faced one of the strongest fields of the fall season. WCU finished first among the SoCon teams competing. Jaleb Saunders and Matthias Peterson led the Catamounts in the men's 8K, finishing 42nd and 63rd, respectively, with times of 25:00.2 and 25.15.7. Also competing in Tyron Fall Collegiate Invitational for the men's team are Jacob Campbell, Eli Clonch, Samuel Corso, Price Fee, Noah Luke, Nick Morizio, Kadin Nance, Alex Ruge, Jason Wade, Bradley White, and Matthew Womack.
Friday night's 8K will provide WCU with another opportunity to compete at the longer distance.
On the women's side, the Catamounts likewise look to carry momentum from the Southern Showcase into their second 5K of the season. Senior Katherine Hopkins leads the group after posting a 18:02.6 and 61st place finish at the Southern Showcase.
Senior Peyton Skoglund also looks to build on her most recent performance after finishing second among the Catamounts at the Southern Showcase with a time of 18:48.3. Skoglund has continued to establish herself as one of WCU's top runners and will look to challenge her previous 5K performances.
Also competing on the women's side are Madeline Hladik, Hannah Kilner, Grace Lane, Avery Mays, and Braelyn-Shea Wahy, and Ashlyn Watkins.
The Tyron Fall Collegiate Invitational will give both Catamount squads an opportunity for one another opportunity to improve before next month's Upstate Invitational.
Up Next For The Catamounts:
The Catamounts have a few weeks off before returning to competition for the Upstate Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C., on Oct. 17, in the final event of the 2026 regular season.
