NIRCA Nationals 2026 | Schedule, Teams & Preview

Confluence results / NIRCA

2026 NIRCA CLUB RUNNING

Nationals: November 7 in Shelbyville

A guide to the 2026 NIRCA Cross Country National Championships at Blue River, with verified regional context and official race information.

Binghamton runner in green ahead of Cornell competitors on the 2026 BRC Open men's cross country course
BRC Open racing in Vestal on October 24, two weeks before the November 7 national championships. Photo: Confluence Running.

Verified October 24, 2026 · Independent coverage from Confluence Running · Official NIRCA site

Photo coverage: 2026 BRC Open gallery from Confluence Running.

Nov 7Saturday, 2026
6Kwomen's championship
8Kmen's championship
Oct 31listed entry deadline

Race-day schedule

November 7 · Shelbyville local time, Eastern Standard Time
Local time Race
9:00 AM Open 6k (general public welcome!)
10:00 AM Women's Junior/Senior/Grad - 6k
11:00 AM Men's Junior/Senior/Grad - 8k
12:00 PM Women's Championships - 6k
1:00 PM Men's Championships - 8k
2:00 PM Women's Freshman/Sophomore - 6k
3:00 PM Men's Freshman/Sophomore - 8k

NIRCA marks the program subject to change. Check the organizer before traveling.

Sources: NIRCA meet information. Checked October 24, 2026.

Course and spectator information

Blue River Cross Country Course, Shelbyville, Indiana. NIRCA lists parking at 725 Lee Boulevard and free parking. The published course preview runs Friday, November 6, from 3 to 5 p.m.

6K course map8K course mapCurrent organizer instructions

Regional storylines to follow

Men

The Mid-Atlantic one-point contest

Virginia and Virginia Tech finished one point apart in the regional men's race. Follow both clubs' scoring groups and the race between Chris Nunn and Jack Morgan.

Women

Cornell's scoring pack

Cornell won the Northeast women's team title with 60. Ella Whiffen finished second overall while the fifth scorer placed 20th overall.

Both divisions

Wisconsin's two regional titles

Wisconsin won Great Plains men's and women's titles. Jacob Alejandro and Dasha Vorontsov won the individual races.

Men

Brown and Boston College

Brown's 86 points beat Boston College's 97 in the Northeast men's race. The club profiles show their regional finishers.

Individual regional leaders

Teams in the entry list

Public entry-list snapshot · October 24, 2026
Club Women entered Men entered
College of William and Mary 8 7
Illinois State University 12 7
University of Delaware 29 0
University of Texas - Austin 7 1
University of Virginia 24 0
Villanova University 2 7
Virginia Commonwealth University 1 0

Current NIRCA entry list

Entries and championship rules

The official page lists an October 31 entry deadline and $30 per runner. Teams and individuals must satisfy NIRCA's eligibility and qualification rules. A public entry does not confirm final eligibility or championship placement.

Official entry and eligibility guidanceLive public entry list

Championship awards: top three teams, first-team All-American places 1-15, and second-team places 16-30, as listed by NIRCA.

Open 6K for alumni, supporters and the public

NIRCA lists a 9 a.m. Open 6K before the collegiate races. Its 12K/14K Challenge combines the Open 6K with a collegiate race for eligible participants.

Official Open 6K registrationNIRCA Open 6K information

Follow the Journey