Competitive Cross Country - Fall 2026 Season

Overview

Competitive Cross Country (XC) consists of weekly practices and up to five meets including the HCAL Regionals Meet, plus the opportunity for Varsity runners to advance to the HCAL State Meet. Cross Country is open to all rising 7th-12th grade students. Cross Country is a very rigorous sport that requires a high level of consistent dedication. Cross Country runners qualify for each meet based on their participation, effort, coachability, and qualifying times.

 

Cross Country runners are expected to be available for ALL practices and meets.

 

Meridian Cross Country has experienced much success in the league!

• 2015, 9th-10th Girls Cross Country State Champion
• 2019, Girls Middle School Premiere State Runner-Up
• 2021, Girls Varsity State Runner-Up
• 2025, All four eligible teams (Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity, Boys MS Premiere, and Girls MS Premiere) advanced to the State Meet  

 

Important Dates

Monday, April 13 - Regular registration ($52.30) opens for 2026 season.

Thursday, April 23  at 9 p.m. - Regular registration ($52.30) ends for the 2026 season.

Monday, April 24 - Registration confirmation emails sent for regular registration.

June 9 - July 12 - Athletics Department closed for summer. Please plan accordingly.

Wednesday, July 22 - Late registration ($104.60) opens.

Thursday, July 30 - Late registration ($104.60) ends at 9 p.m. No additional registration opportunities after this date.

Friday, August 7 - Physical forms due for tryouts.

Saturday, August 15 from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Mandatory Tryouts at San Gabriel Park. (Must be registered and physically eligible.)

Saturday, August 15 by 8p.m. - Tryout results posted on Tryouts webpage by tryout number.

Monday, August 17 by 6 p.m. - Participation fee invoices issued via MySchoolBucks and Welcome emails sent

Sunday, August 23 - Participation fee invoices are due. If paying by check, please drop off your payment as instructed in your Welcome email by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 21.

Monday, August 24 - Practices start. (Must be financially eligible to participate.)

TBD - Sports Photos

Friday, September 11 - Meet: Hill Top Invitational (HS & MS)

Friday, September 18 - Meet: HOKA McNeil Invitational - High School

Saturday, September 19 - Meet: HOKA McNeil Invitational - Middle School

Saturday, September 26 - Meet: St. Michael's Invitational (HS & MS)

Saturday, October 17 - Meet: Founders Classical Invitational (HS & MS) - pending

Saturday, October 24 - HCAL Regionals in the Austin area

Saturday, November 7 - HCAL State Meet at Southwestern University (open to Varsity only; advancement must be earned)

 

Season Goals

Team Goals:

• Support your teammates
• Communicate and socialize. Yes, running can be fun!
• Push each other to be better.

 

Individual Goals:

• Give your best effort, have a positive attitude, be on time, and attend all practices.
• Listen to your body. Don’t push yourself to injury.
• Challenge yourself! Improve your times and become faster.

 

Coach

Nick Manuszak

 

See Coach. 

 

Tryouts

Students interested in participating in 2026 Cross Country are required to participate in Tryouts on Saturday, August 15.

 

Practices

Although there will not be official practices during the summer, Cross Country runners are expected to train independently to get ready for tryouts. Practices start on Monday, August 24.

 

Middle school participants are expected to practice with the team twice a week. High school participants are expected to practice with the team three times a week. Find the 2026 Cross Country Practice Schedule.

 

Meets

Students must qualify for each meet. Practice participation, effort, sportsmanship and performance will determine qualification for meets.

• Runners are expected to attend all meets, even when not entered into the meet to compete.
• If you do not attend the required practices, you will not be entered in the next meet.
• If you are a no show to the meet, you will not be entered in the next meet.

 

The Tentative 2026 Cross Country Meet Schedule will be available by the first day of school. It will continue to solidify through August. Please anticipate meets each Saturday from September 11 - November 7. At this time, we do not anticipate meets during Fall Break.

 

Equipment

To help Cross Country participants be prepared for their season, lists of required and optional Equipment are available.

 

Fees

See Fees.

Please email questions to Meridian Athletics.

 

Registration -  Now closed.

Monday, April 13 through Thursday, April 23  at 9 p.m.  – Regular registration ($52.30) for the 2026 season.

 

Monday, May 18 through 9 p.m. on  Monday, July 20  – Registration ($52.30) for newly enrolled students (For students who enrolled in Meridian after April 23. Please request access from the school registrar.)

 

Wednesday, July 22 through 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 30 – Late registration ($104.60). No additional registration opportunities after this date.

 

Check your registration status.

 

Lettering

Lettering in an extracurricular activity is reserved for high school students who participate at the highest level. The following were the Lettering requirements for Cross Country for 2025-2026. 

1. Participation Level Requirement - Cross Country: The student athlete must 

participate in at least 75% of the available Varsity races during the season. This includes the Regional Meet.

1. Participation Amount & Quality Requirement - 

1. Promptly attending all practices and exhibitions (unless excused in advance by the coach or by a Standing Conflict Waiver, which was approved by the Athletic Coordinator). To be nominated to letter, students cannot have any unexcused absences.
2. Always demonstrating a positive attitude toward their sport, teammates, and opponents.
3. Consistently showing that they are working their hardest and showing outstanding effort. 

 

The lettering requirements for 2026-2027 will be similar and they will be published in September.  Visit Letter Jackets & Lettering for more information.

 

Questions

Please send questions to Meridian Athletics.