DETROIT -- Tenth-year head coach Grant Lofdahl and the Wayne State University cross country teams have announced their schedule for the 2026 campaign.

"With a young women's team and an experienced men's team, both squads having big postseason ambitions, and 2026 being a D2 fall festival year, there is a lot we need to balance out with our 2026 competition schedule," Lofdahl said.  "Co-hosting the season opener at Cass Benton with Detroit Mercy should be a lot of fun, and it's nice to open up close to home on a challenging course.  We will split the squad between Lansing and Louisville, with our top 7-10 men and women racing at the Louisville Classic in early October — always a huge and competitive meet.  Going to compete at Parkside is important, given that it's a difficult course and will host regionals this year and next year.  It will be very beneficial for everyone to see that course beforehand.

"We've traditionally hosted the Warrior Challenge in October during festival years, and it's a great springboard from our home invite into championship season," Lofdahl added.  "The GLIAC meet is always one of the best conference championships in D2, and Purdue Northwest has a pretty nice, spectator-friendly course.  We'll have a lot of experience on the regional course by the time late November rolls around, with some folks racing at Parkside for the fourth time in two years, and I think that will give us an edge in achieving our biggest goal:  qualifying both teams for the NCAA Championships on Dec. 4 in Lawrence, Kansas."

Wayne State opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 12, as it co-hosts the Tommy T vs. W Classic at Cass Benton Park alongside Detroit Mercy.  The Warriors will remain in Michigan the following weekend for the Lansing Community College Stars Invitational on Sept. 18.

On Oct. 3, select members of the men's and women's teams will travel to the University of Louisville Cross Country Classic in Louisville, Kentucky.  Continuing into October, Wayne State will head to Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Oct. 10 for the Lucian Rosa Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. 

The Warriors return home on Saturday, Oct. 24, to host the Warrior Challenge at Willow Metropark.  This is the program's lone home meet of the season and the final regular-season competition before entering the postseason. 

The Warriors begin their championship season on Nov. 6 at the GLIAC Championships, hosted by Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. 

Wayne State will return to the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Nov. 21 for the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional before concluding the season at the NCAA Division II Championships on Dec. 4 at the historic Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas.