TURLOCK, Calif. — The California State University Northridge men’s and women’s cross country teams will begin their 2026 seasons by competing at the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational on Saturday, September 12. The meet, hosted by Stanislaus State, is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m. at the River Oaks Golf Course in Turlock, California.
Men’s Team Overview
The CSUN men’s cross country program is entering its 53rd season with nine returning letterwinners from 2025. Sophomore Adam Divinity is a notable returner, having posted one of the top 10k times in school history at the 2025 NCAA West Regionals with a time of 31:34.9. Other returning runners include Thomas Achten, Cesar Cuevas, Omar Heredia, Darrick Jacob, Jr., Diego Rodriguez, Ja’Patrick Smith, Elijah Stenberg, and Raul Verges. Newcomers for the team are Miles Billiris, Tyler Halvorsen, Erick Leal, Connor Roop, and Luis Torres Orrales.
Women’s Team Overview
The women’s team enters its 50th season with six returning letterwinners led by junior Lilit Arakelyan. Arakelyan posted the fastest 4k time in CSUN history at the 2025 Wave Invite with a 13:59.6 and paced the women at the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational last year with a time of 21:43.1. Other returners include Nadia Munoz, Citaly Ruiz, Brianna Torres, Zyanya Torres, and Ailani Valiente. New additions to the roster are Kinley Jackson, a junior from Gilbert, Arizona, and transfer Keona Mataalii from LA Harbor College.
Previous Performance and Upcoming Meets
At the 2025 Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational, the men’s squad finished sixth in the 8k race with 173 points, while the women’s team placed eighth in the 6k race with 211 points. Elijah Stenberg and Adam Divinity posted top times for the men, and Arakelyan led the women.
Following the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational on September 12, CSUN returns to competition on September 17 at the UCR Invitational at the UCR Ag Ops Course in Riverside, California. The teams will then compete on October 3 at the Master’s Invitational hosted by The Master’s University at Central Park in Santa Clarita, California.
CSB Take
The 2026 season opener at the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational represents a key milestone for the California State University Northridge men’s and women’s cross country teams. With experienced letterwinners like Adam Divinity and Lilit Arakelyan leading a blend of developing newcomers, the Matadors have a solid foundation to build upon. This early-season meet will provide valuable insight into their prospects as they work to improve their standings and compete throughout the fall.
Source: Original report
