CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – As collegiate cross country continues, eight Atlantic Coast Conference teams will compete across three meets on Friday, September 26. The fifth weekend of ACC Cross Country will be highlighted by the annual Gans Creek Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri.
The Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri, will feature five ACC teams: Virginia, Stanford, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Duke. Home to the Missouri men’s and women’s cross country teams, the Gans Creek Course has hosted six Gans Creek Classics, multiple conference and NCAA championships and will soon host the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship. Reigning Gans Creek Classic men’s and women’s champion, Stanford, will take on the course this weekend alongside 31 other teams. All ACC teams will compete in the “Gold Championship” category, with the women’s 6K scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. ET, followed by the men’s 8K at 9:45 a.m. ET. The races will be available to stream on the SEC+ network.
In addition to the Gans Creek Classic, Florida State will host Miami and others in the Seminole Invitational at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida. The men’s 8K is slated to begin at 7:40 a.m. ET, followed by the women’s 5K at 8:20 a.m. ET. This meet comes ahead of the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championship, which will also be hosted at Florida State’s own Apalachee Regional Park.
Lastly, SMU will compete at Oklahoma State’s Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboy Jamboree is one of the nation’s oldest races, dating all the way back to 1937. For this year’s Jamboree, the women’s 6K race will begin at 9:15 a.m. ET, with the men’s race chalked up to start at 8:50 a.m. ET.
Noting ACC Cross Country
- In the USTFCCCA Week #1 coaches’ poll, seven ACC women’s cross country teams were ranked – tied for the most of any conference. Six ACC men’s cross country teams were ranked in the week #1 coaches’ poll – the most of any conference.
- The NC State women and Wake Forest men have been selected as the ACC preseason favorites.
- Preseason favorite Wake Forest won its second ACC Championship in three years in 2024. The Demon Deacons earned 15 of the 17 possible first-place votes in the preseason poll.
- In 2024, Notre Dame won its first-ever ACC Women’s Cross Country Championship. The Fighting Irish were picked second in the ACC preseason poll for 2025.
ACC Cross Country Weekly Schedule
Friday, September 26
Florida State and Miami at Seminole Invitational (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Duke, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia and Wake Forest at Gans Greek Classic (Columbia, Mo.)
SMU at Cowboy Jamboree (Stillwater, Okla.)