Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Louisville Cross Country Classic
Herd Cross Country Faces Test at Louisville Cross Country Classic Gold Race
10/2/2026 10:30:00 AM | Cross Country
Championship Fund | Relay Club
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The month of October has arrived for Marshall Cross Country, meaning the Herd is in the home stretch in preparation for the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Championships in Foley, Alabama on October 30.
Head Coach Caleb Bowen's Herd travels to E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park for one of the nation's largest annual meets, the Louisville Cross Country Classic Saturday morning, October 3. The Herd has qualified for the Gold Races - the highest ranked and first events of Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. with the Men's 8K. The Women's 5K race follows at 9:45 a.m.
Marshall Cross Country has completed two meets so far this season, with both the men and women finishing at least Top-3 in each competition. Two-time SBC Women's Runner of the Week Rachael Withrow has finished as the individual meet winner at both the Thundering Herd Invitational and Queen City Invite.
"With a couple of weeks off from competition, we've been able to put together a quality training block," said Director of XC/TF Keith Roberts. "The team looks sharp, and everyone is always excited to race in Louisville. It's a fast course with strong competition at every level, which should make for a great test."
"This will be a good gauge of where we are at as we head into the final few weeks of the season, with conference championships now less than a month away."
Over 80 schools will be represented at the Louisville Cross Country Classic throughout the weekend. The meet is the largest the Herd will compete at this season.
"We are excited to go back to the Louisville Classic again this year," XC Head Coach Caleb Bowen said. "It's a staple for us where we know we are going to get great competition at a location that is pretty close to us."
"It's a course where you can compare where you are to where you were in previous years. It looks like we'll get a break from the extreme heat so I'm excited to see what our athletes can do with some cooler temps."
To donate to the Championship Fund for Marshall XC/TF, please click HERE. All proceeds go directly to Marshall's Cross Country and Track & Field teams. To support Marshall XC/TF's Relay Club, please click HERE.
Follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @HerdTFXC for coverage all season long of Marshall cross country.
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