SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Sept. 3) – The UC Santa Barbara Men's and Women's cross country teams are set to open the 2026 season at home, with the second annual Gaucho Twilight on Thursday, Sept. 3. Hosted at the Mission Club Golf Course in Lompoc, California, the Gauchos will face Cal Poly and CSU Bakersfield as they prepare for a competitive season ahead. 

DETAILS
Race 1: Women's 4k at 5:40 p.m.
Race 2: Men's 6k at 6:10 p.m.
Location: Mission Club Golf Course, Lompoc, Calif.
Forecast: 72 degrees, cloudy, wind 11 mph
Results: Follow along with finished results

LAST SEASON
The UCSB Men's squad climbed up three spots in the Big West Standings to finish fourth at the conference championships in O'ahu, led by Zach Parker's third place finish on the 8k course. The women's team finished sixth in the conference, led by freshman Addie Oversmith who crossed the line sixth. Both squads advanced to the NCAA West Regionals in Sacramento, where they closed out the season by improving their regional standings.

NEXT UP
One week later, the Gauchos will compete in the Kim Duyst Invite in Ceres, California on Saturday, Sept. 12. Later in September, the Gauchos will head to Illinois for the Chicago Lakefront hosted by Loyola Chicago on Friday, Sept. 25.

ROSTER ADDITIONS
Women's cross country will see the debut of six runners (Olivia Bollenbach, Alana Clarke, Maggie De La Rionda, Virginia Knight, Lucia Pearson, Emerson McMeekin). The men's team will feature six new additions (Owen Abbott, Jack Burnett, Carson Ehman, Chase Manning, Luke Friedl, and Bryson Ward).