The UWRF men's and women's cross country teams return to competition on Saturday, Oct. 3, traveling to Northfield, Minn., for the 2026 Running of the Cows (Pre-Nationals), hosted by Carleton College at the Bill Huyck Championship Cross Country Course.
Both Falcon squads enter the weekend ranked in the USTFCCCA North Region, with the men sitting at No. 7 and the women holding the No. 8 spot. The Falcons are coming off strong performances at the St. Olaf Invitational on Sept. 19, where the men placed third overall and the women finished fourth.Â
2026 RUNNING OF THE COWS
Date:Â Saturday, October 3
rd
Time:Â 10 a.m. (Women's 6k) // 12 p.m. (Men's 8k)
Site:Â Northfield, Minn. // Bill Huyck Championship Cross Country Course
Coverage:Â Live Results //
Meet Information
MEN RACE NOTES
- The Falcon men enter Saturday's competition ranked No. 7 in the USTFCCCA North Region.
- UWRF is coming off a third-place team finish at the St. Olaf Invitational, led by three runners placing inside the top 15.
- Ryan Pierson paced the Falcons with a 10th-place finish, completing the 8K in 25:48.0. Pierson improved his season-opening time by more than a minute.
- Jack Richter followed closely behind in 13th place with a time of 25:51.6, while Wyatt Johnson finished 15th in 25:53.3.
- Alex Pazdernik added a 30th-place finish with a time of 26:17.7, while Levi Miest rounded out UWRF's top five in 84th place at 27:28.2.
WOMEN RACE NOTES
- The Falcon women enter the weekend ranked No. 8 in the USTFCCCA North Region following their fourth-place team finish at the St. Olaf Invitational.
- Laina Viere led UWRF at St. Olaf, finishing fifth overall in the 6K with a time of 22:56.5. Viere improved her season-opening time of 24:41.9 by more than a minute and 45 seconds.
- Adison Wilde was the Falcons' second finisher, placing 15th overall with a time of 23:24.7.
- Emma Karnitz finished 30th overall in 23:51.3, followed by freshman Claire Story in 37th place with a time of 24:00.9.
- Freshman Alyssa Hagen rounded out UWRF's top five at St. Olaf, finishing 73rd overall with a time of 25:01.4.
