EDISON, NJ (September 4, 2026) – The 2026 Metro Conference cross country season officially begins Friday with competition continuing throughout the opening weekend.
 
Action gets underway with several Metro institutions taking to the course. Marist will host the Marist Opener at The Preserve at Vassar, with Fairfield and Siena also competing. Rider will compete at the Temple Cross Country Invitational, while Iona heads to the Adelphi Panthers Invitational. Mount St. Mary’s will host the Mount 5K Duels, while Manhattan will take on Columbia in the Columbia Dual.
 
The action continues Saturday, as Buffalo-area rivals Niagara and Canisius compete in the Little Three Championships. Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart will also take part in the Stony Brook Season Opener.
 
                        2026 Metro Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Opening Week Schedule

Date	Matchup	Time
Friday, September 4	Rider at Temple XC Invitational	9:00AM
Friday, September 4	Manhattan at Columbia Duel	9:00AM
Friday, September 4	Fairfield at Preserve at Vassar, Marist Opener	6:00PM
Friday, September 4	Iona at Adlephi Panthers Invitationals	9:00AM
Friday, September 4	Mount St. Mary’s hosts the Mount 5K Duels	4:00PM
Friday, September 4	Siena at Preserve at Vassar, Marist Opener	6:00PM
Friday, September 4	Marist hosts Preserve at Vassar, Marist Opener	6:00PM
Saturday, September 5	Niagara at the Little Three Championships	10:45AM
Saturday, September 5	Canisius at the Little Three Championships	10:45AM
Saturday, September 5	Quinnipiac at the Stony Brook Season Opener	10:30AM
Saturday, September 5	Sacred Heart at the Stony Brook Season Opener	10:30AM

 
The 2026 Metro Cross Country Championships will be held at the Blue Sky Sports Complex in Middletown, NY, for the first time in conference history on Saturday, October 31. Manhattan University will host the championship for a conference-record 32nd time. For all information regarding the 2026 Metro Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, please visit here.