MERCED, Calif. – University of California, Merced cross country has announced its 2026 schedule, featuring five regular season meets before postseason competition begins in November.

The season will begin with the Kim Duyst Twilight on September 12 in Ceres, Calif. This year will mark the fourth consecutive season racing under the lights at River Oaks Golf Course.

The Bobcats will be back in action the following weekend in Southern California as UC Merced will compete at the UCR Invitational for the first time since 2017.

The Bobcats will have a weekend off before having a meet in back-to-back-to-back weeks to begin October. UC Merced will compete at the Pacific Invitational (Oct. 2) in Lodi, SF State Invite (Oct. 9), and the Bronco Invitational in Sunnyvale (Oct. 17). UC Merced's Bronco Invitational will be their fifth straight year attending the historically fast meet.

Postseason action starts with the CCAA Championships in San Bernardino, Calif., on November 7.

The Bobcats path to the NCAA Division II Championships run through the NCAA West Regionals in Sacramento, Calif., on November 21. This is the first year that the Bobcats are eligible for NCAA postseason competition.