DALTON, Ga. – | FULL SCHEDULE | The Dalton State women's cross country team has announced its 2026 schedule, featuring seven meets across four states and a special home event under the lights at Grove Level Running Course in Varnell.
 
"We're a young team with a lot of freshmen who are eager to make a splash at conference," said Carrie Bishop, Dalton State women's cross country/track & field coach. "This group is young and strong, and we're excited to get on some new courses and face better competition this season. That experience will give us a better gauge of where we are as we build toward conference, and our goal is to put ourselves in position to make another trip to Vancouver, Washington, for the national meet."
 
The Lady Roadrunners open the season on Friday, Sept. 4, at the Foothills Invitational in Oxford, Ala., hosted by Jacksonville State. The race is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. (C), giving Dalton State an early regional test to begin the fall campaign.
 
Dalton State will return home on Saturday, Sept. 12, for Saturday Night Lights, hosted at Grove Level Running Course in Varnell. The home meet will feature a glow theme to match the nighttime race schedule, with the women set to compete at 9:25 p.m.
 
The Lady Roadrunners will continue September competition on Sept. 26 at the FireHawk Invitational in Oakville, Ala., hosted by UT Southern (Tenn.). That race is scheduled for 9:20 a.m. (C).
 
October opens with a trip to Sewanee, Tenn., for the Mountain Goat Invitational on Oct. 3, hosted by Sewanee. Dalton State is scheduled to race at 9:45 a.m. (C).
 
The Lady Roadrunners will then head to Florence, Ala., on Oct. 16 for the UNA Invitational, hosted by North Alabama. The meet is scheduled for an 8:30 a.m. (C) start.
 
Dalton State will close the regular-season portion of the schedule on Oct. 23 at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge in Knoxville, Tenn., hosted by Tennessee Wesleyan. The women's race is set for 9:15 a.m.
 
Postseason competition begins Nov. 6 at the SSAC Championship in Clinton, Miss., with the women scheduled to race at 8:30 a.m. (C). The Lady Roadrunners will look to build on last season's fourth-place finish at the conference championship, where Dalton State placed fourth out of nine teams.
 
The 2026 campaign concludes Nov. 20 with the NAIA Championship in Vancouver, Wash., with the race time listed as TBA (W).
 
2026 Dalton State Women's Cross Country Schedule

• Sept. 4 – Foothills Invitational, Oxford, Ala., 9:00 a.m. (C)
• Sept. 12 – Saturday Night Lights, Grove Level Running Course, Varnell, Ga., 9:25 p.m.
• Sept. 26 – FireHawk Invitational, Oakville, Ala., 9:20 a.m. (C)
• Oct. 3 – Mountain Goat Invitational, Sewanee, Tenn., 9:45 a.m. (C)
• Oct. 16 – UNA Invitational, Florence, Ala., 8:30 a.m. (C)
• Oct. 23 – NAIA Appalachian Challenge, Knoxville, Tenn., 9:15 a.m.
• Nov. 6 – SSAC Championship, Clinton, Miss., 8:30 a.m. (C)
• Nov. 20 – NAIA Championship, Vancouver, Wash., TBA (W)

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