FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Coconino Community College Athletics has released the official 2026 Cross Country schedule, setting the stage for a season that will take the Comets from the pine forests of Flagstaff to marquee invitationals across the Southwest and beyond.

CCC opens its competitive season close to home on Wednesday, September 2 at the George Kyte Classic, hosted by Northern Arizona University at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff. Men are set to race at 4:15 p.m., with the women following at 5 p.m.

The Comets then hit the road for a stretch of invitationals that will test them against a wide range of competition:

• Saturday, September 12 — Embry-Riddle Arizona Invitational, hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the ERAU Campus in Prescott, AZ (Men: 9:00 a.m.; Women: 9:45 a.m.)
• Friday, September 18 — Southern Showcase, hosted by Jacksonville State University at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, AL (Men: 7:30 a.m.; Women: 8:20 a.m.)
• Saturday, September 19 — Firestorm Classic, hosted by Arizona Christian University at Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale, AZ (Men: 7:30 a.m.; Women: 8:15 a.m.)

The Comets will race split squads during their back-to-back competitions in Alabama and the Valley, demonstrating their depth across the roster.

The teams will head west for the Highlander Invitational on Saturday, October 17th, hosted by UC Riverside at the UCR Agricultural Operations Course. The day features a full slate of races — Men’s Invite at 8 a.m., Women’s Invite at 8:40 a.m., Men’s Open at 9:10 a.m., and Women’s Open at 9:50 a.m.

The postseason begins Friday, October 30 at the NJCAA Region 1 Championships, hosted by Tohono O’odham Community College at Silverlake Park in Tucson, AZ. Women race at 8 a.m., with the men following at 8:45 a.m. A strong showing here will set the Comets up for success at the National Championships.

The season reaches its climax on Saturday, November 14 at the NJCAA National Championships, hosted at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, AL, the same venue that hosted the Southern Showcase back in September. Women take off at 12 p.m., with the men’s race set for 1 p.m.

Full 2026 Schedule at a Glance

Date / Time	Time	Meet	Location	Host
Wednesday, Sept 2nd	Men: 4:15 pm Women: 5:00 pm	George Kyte Classic	Buffalo Park, Flagstaff, AZ	Northern Arizona University
Saturday, September 12th	Men: 9:00am Women: 9:45am	Embry-Riddle Arizona Invitational	ERAU Campus, Prescott, AZ	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Friday, September 18th	Men: 7:30 am Women: 8:20 am	Southern Showcase	John Hunt Park, Huntsville, AL	Jacksonville State University
Saturday, September 19th	Men: 7:30 am Women: 8:15 am	Firestorm Classic	Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park, 10401 N. 63rd Ave, Glendale, AZ	Arizona Christian University
Saturday, October 17th	Men’s Invite: 8:00 am Women’s Invite:8:40 am Men’s Open: 9:10 am Women’s Open: 9:50 am	Highlander Invitational	UCR Agricultural Operations Course, Riverside, CA	UC Riverside
Friday, October 30th	Women: 8:00 am Men: 8:45 am	NJCAA Region 1 Championships	Silverlake Park, Tucson, AZ	Tohono O’odham Community College
Saturday, November 14th	Women: 12:00 pm Men: 1:00 pm	NJCAA National Championships	John Hunt Park, Huntsville, AL	NJCAA

With a schedule that blends home invitationals, cross-country travel, and a clear path through regionals to nationals, the Comets are poised for a season built to peak at exactly the right moment. Fans in Flagstaff can catch the team’s home-area opener at the George Kyte Classic on September 2nd before following the Comets’ national title chase throughout the fall.