LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's cross country teams will kick off their 2026 season Friday at the Tennessee Invitational in Knoxville, held at the Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course. The men's 4-mile race begins at 8 a.m. ET, followed by the women's 3-mile race at 8:45 a.m. ET, according to UK Athletics.

Cross country and distance coach Tito Medrano enters his second season with the Wildcats. In his inaugural campaign, Medrano led Ed Bird and Collins Kipngok to NCAA Championships, with the team posting an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional. Medrano brings significant coaching credentials to the program, having won 12 conference team titles and coached 12 All-Americans across his nine seasons of collegiate coaching experience.

Kentucky's men's team features seven returners led by Bird and Kipngok, along with two new additions: Buffalo transfer Aidan Norris and freshman JT Hayes Jr. The women's roster includes four returners led by Janet Amimo and Doricah Isoe, plus five newcomers: Western Kentucky graduate transfer Kinley Kunkel, senior transfer Sara Zouhair, and freshmen Addyson Abner, Madelyn McCartney and Lily Parke.

The Tennessee Invitational marks the first of six scheduled meets for Kentucky in 2026. The Wildcats will compete at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri, on September 25, followed by the Pre-National Invitational at Indiana State on October 16. Postseason competition begins October 30 at the SEC Cross Country Championships in Columbia.