PAIR OF FIRST-TIME RACES HIGHLIGHT YEAR THREE OF NEMCC CROSS COUNTRY

Northeast's 2026 cross country schedule features two events in Huntsville, AL and two more in Florence, AL.
Posted: Jul 20, 2026

BOONEVILLE, Miss. - The Northeast Mississippi Community College cross country programs will keep a close radius to home for the upcoming 2026 campaign.

 

The Lady Tigers and Tigers will once again share the same schedule, which features all but one race within a 2.5 hour drive from the Booneville campus.

 

The lone exception to that is the Mountain Goat Invitational, which is hosted by the University of the South (Sewanee) on October 3rd. It is the first of two first-time events that Northeast will compete in.

 

The other is the University of North Alabama's Kennemer Classic on Friday, October 16. This will be the final of five regular season contests for both the Lady Tigers and Tigers.

 

"We always try to sneak a new course in there and Sewanee fit good in our schedule," said Northeast head coach Aaron Hight. "We continue to build and we continue to do bigger and better things. We're never satisfied with where we are."

 

The third cross country season in Northeast's history starts at the Freed Speed Invitational on Saturday, August 29. The Lady Tigers and Tigers were both the runner-up at this event one year ago.

 

The two teams make their initial appearance of the season at McFarland Park in nearby Florence, Ala., one week later on September 5th for the eighth annual UNA Invitational.

 

John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala., will again be a common destination for Northeast. It begins at the popular nighttime On Twilight at PR'ville race on Friday, September 25.

 

The Lady Tigers and Tigers return for the region championships on the last Friday of October with the goal of qualifying for nationals, which will also take place at the same course in the Rocket City this year.

 

"We expect to be there at nationals," Hight said. "(John Hunt) has a great facility, but one thing that they do really, really well is they make you feel like a huge priority when you're there. They make it professional."

 

Both squads will share the starting line with some of the top talent from across the country. That includes runners from larger NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA institutions.