Northwestern Cross Country Prepares for 2026 Season with High Hopes

As the 2026 cross country season approaches, Northwestern University’s team is poised to make a significant impact. Kicking off their campaign on Friday, the Wildcats are fresh off a remarkable 2025 season that saw them secure an impressive 18th place at the NCAA Championships, marking the best finish in the program's modern history. This year, Northwestern enters the season ranked No. 11 in the Preseason National Coaches’ Poll, joining three other Big Ten teams in the national rankings, which sets a promising tone for their upcoming competitions.

In this comprehensive preview, we delve into the roster and expectations for the Wildcats as they gear up for their first race.

Returners: The team boasts a strong lineup of returning athletes, including graduate students Maddy Whitman and Skye Ellis, along with seniors Erin Boler, Ava Criniti, Anna Delgado, Jackie Holman, Maddy Powers, Lydia Sommer, and Kailey Zagst. Additionally, juniors Cary Drake and Katherine Klimek, along with a talented group of sophomores, round out the core of the team.

Departures: However, the Wildcats will need to navigate the loss of key runners such as Ava Earl and Anna Hightower, both of whom played crucial roles in the team's success last season.

New Additions: Northwestern welcomes a fresh wave of talent with 14 newcomers, including graduate student Sophie Magson from England and senior Katie Clute, who previously set the 3,000m facility record at Kansas State. The roster also includes promising freshmen like Kyla Babb and Sofia Balistreri, who are expected to enhance the team's depth.

Head coach Jill Miller, who was named the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, will rely on a mix of seasoned veterans and new talent to maintain the momentum from last season. Ellis and Holman are expected to be pivotal, with Ellis having led the team at the NCAA Championships with a personal best of 19:50.9 in the 6k. Holman also made her mark by entering Northwestern’s all-time top five in both the 5,000m and 1,500m events.

Ava Criniti is another standout to watch; she earned a Second Team All-Big Ten selection last season and shattered the 10,000m program record in her debut at the Raleigh Relays. Her performance at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational also placed her second on the 5,000m record board.

Other notable returners include Kailey Zagst, who achieved a personal best of 21:36.5 in the 6k, and Maddy Whitman, who had the highest returning finish in the NCAA Championships aside from Ellis and Holman.

While the Wildcats are well-equipped with returning talent, the challenge will be to fill the void left by the departed stars. The infusion of new athletes into the program will be essential for maintaining competitive strength.

Looking ahead, Northwestern's schedule begins with the Badger Classic in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 4. They will then compete at the John McNichols Invitational in Indiana on September 19, which will serve as a preview for the NCAA Championships later in the season. The Wildcats will also host the Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago on September 25, followed by the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison two weeks later.

The Big Ten Championships are set to take place on October 30 in Madison, hosted by the University of Wisconsin, while the NCAA Midwest Regional will occur on November 13 in Ames, Iowa. The season culminates with the NCAA Championships at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, on November 21.