SPEARFISH, S.D. - The Black Hills State University men's and women's cross country teams and director of track & field/cross country, Brian Medigovich, announced the 2026 schedule on Monday afternoon. The slate features four regular season events, followed by the conference, regional, and national championships. 

The year begins on September 11 with the 11th annual Gage McSpadden Memorial Invitational, as they take the course at the Fort Meade Recreation Area in Sturgis. A year ago the Yellow Jackets won both individual titles in the home meet and added a team title on the men's side. The next day, September 12, the team will also host the Gage McSpadden Memorial 5K Fun Run at the Spearfish City Park. 

The month of September will see the Green & Gold take part in another pair of meets in-state, first traveling to the Hart Ranch Golf Club in Rapid City to compete in the Bauer XC Classic hosted by South Dakota Mines on September 18, followed by a trip across the state to compete at the Augustana Invitational at the Yankton Trails Park in Sioux Falls on September 25. 

The first trip out of state for the program will be the lone meet of October as Black Hills State visits Fort Worth, Texas, and the AP Ranch to compete in the Old Glory Gallop hosted by Dallas Baptist on October 17. 

The Yellow Jackets then set off into postseason competition mode in November, beginning with the RMAC Cross Country Championships in Rapid City on November 7 at the Hart Ranch Golf Club. Then following a two week break, the Green & Gold will make a second trip to the Lone Star State, traveling to Lubbock, Texas, to compete in the highly-competitive NCAA Division II South Central Regional on November 21. Those who qualify from the regional will then have the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Division II National Championships at the Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas, on December 4.