Long Beach State’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams head to UC Riverside on Saturday for the Big West Championships, where a revamped conference field and defending champion Cal Poly raise the stakes. The Beach will look to improve on last year’s fifth-place men’s finish and eighth-place women’s finish.

By the Numbers
  • The men’s team has won the championship 7 times; its most recent title came in 1983.
  • Last year, the men scored 131 points and the women scored 211.
  • Cal Poly has swept the men’s and women’s titles for 4 straight seasons.
  • The men’s 8K starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday; the women’s 6K starts at 9:15 a.m.
Yes, But

The Riverside course may look fast and flat, but its elevation change can punish runners who start too aggressively. Utah Valley’s altitude experience and California Baptist’s strong recent results also make the expanded field more challenging for Long Beach State.

State of Play
  • Utah Valley and California Baptist join the Big West in 2026, changing the championship field.
  • Coach Devin Elizondo expects both newcomers to challenge four-time defending champion Cal Poly.
  • Long Beach State last raced at the course in September, with both teams finishing 21st at the UC Riverside Invitational.
What’s Next

The championship races are Saturday, Oct. 31, at the UC Riverside Ag/Ops Course in Riverside, California.

Bottom Line

Long Beach State faces a tougher conference test on a course that rewards patience; managing the demanding return stretch could be as important as the team’s speed.