The UIS cross country program has announced its 2026 season schedule, featuring the 11th annual Prairie Stars Invitational and an exciting lineup of competitive meets across Illinois and beyond. The Prairie Stars are coming off one of their most successful seasons, with the men's team securing a 2nd place finish and the women's team achieving its best finish ever in 3rd place at the GLVC Championship. This season promises to build on that success with a strong group of returners, including All-GLVC seniors Kaleigh Inniss on the women's team and Joey Karlesky and Matt Padilla on the men's team.

The 2026 schedule kicks off on Sept. 4 with the much-anticipated Prairie Stars Invitational at the UIS Cross Country Course. This event will showcase familiar competitors such as UMSL, Quincy, Millikin, and Illinois College, providing an exciting start to the season right at home.

Following the home invitational, UIS will travel to Normal, Ill., on Sept. 18 for the Illinois State Redbird Invite. This meet offers a chance for the Prairie Stars to test their strength against robust competition, setting the pace for the season.

On Oct. 10, the Stars will head to Romeoville, Ill., for the Lewis Crossover, a staple in the schedule that promises intense competition and a chance to measure up against fellow strong programs.

A notable addition to this year's schedule is the Charger Invite in Huntsville, AL, on October 24th. This meet marks a return to a competition the Prairie Stars haven't attended in four years, boasting a high level of competition that will challenge and prepare the teams for the postseason.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championships are slated for Nov. 7 in Springfield, Mo. This is a pivotal meet where the Prairie Stars will aim to hit postseason goals and gain momentum heading into regionals.

The Prairie Stars will compete at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships on Nov. 21 in Kenosha, Wis. The regional serves as the qualifying meet for the NCAA Division II National Championships, with the top three teams and select individuals earning automatic bids. Additional at-large selections will be announced following the meet, with the national championships set for Dec. 4 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan.

Head Coach Emmons King expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season: "I couldn't be more excited to announce our 2026 Cross Country schedule. With this being the last Festival Year In DII, we have a lot of great meets lined up for our extended season. We will compete against some great DI talent while also going up against some of the best DII teams late in the season to help us secure some out-of-region wins that will affect the national rankings. We are returning and bringing in some great talent that will help our squads not only compete at the top of the GLVC but also at the top of the Midwest Region. These are two teams that are working extremely hard this summer to achieve their goals. I can't wait to start the season!" 

Fans and supporters can view the full schedule and stay up to date by visiting uisprairiestars.com.