Kentucky Cross Country Set to Open 2026 Season at the Tennessee Invitational

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats cross country team is set for the start of the 2026 fall season on Friday in Knoxville, Tenn. at the Tennessee Invitational at the UT XC Course at Cherokee Farm.

The event is scheduled to kick off tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. ET with the men’s 4-mile race, followed by the women’s 3-mile race at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Kentucky cross country and distance coach Tito Medrano enters his second season with the Wildcats in 2026. Last season, he led two Wildcats, Ed Bird and Collins Kiprop Kipngok, to an NCAA Championships appearance and an eighth and ninth place team finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional.

The Wildcats welcomed back seven returners on the men’s team, led by Bird and Kiprop Kipngok, as well as four on the women’s side, led by Janet Jepkemboi Amimo and Doricah Minsari Isoe.

Two runners were added this summer, including Buffalo transfer Aidan Norris and freshman JT Hayes Jr. on the men’s team. For the women, UK added Western Kentucky graduate transfer Kinley Kunkel, senior transfer Sara Zouhair and freshmen Addyson Leigh Abner, Madelyn McCartney and Lily Parke.

Tomorrow’s event is the first of six scheduled meets for Kentucky in 2026. Later this month, the Wildcats will travel to Columbia, Mo. on Sept. 25 for the annual Gans Creek Classic, followed by the regular season finale at the Pre-National Invitational on Oct. 16, hosted by Indiana State. Postseason competition is set to begin on Oct. 30 back in Columbia for the 2026 SEC Cross Country Championships.

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