The Fresno State Bulldogs men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at the Charles Bowles Invitational on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in Salem, Oregon. The men’s 8-kilometer race is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. PT, followed by the women’s 5-kilometer race at 10:20 a.m. PT at McCulloch Stadium and Bush Park.
This event marks the Bulldogs’ first regular-season meet outside California since 2018, offering the teams a chance to run on an unfamiliar course and face new competition. They will compete against programs including Hawai’i and Saint Mary’s, whom they have faced earlier in the season.
The Fresno State men’s team returns to full health following illnesses at the UC Riverside Invitational and aims for a stronger performance. Key returners include Noah Graffigna, Emilio Nunez, Jaden Tungate, Enrique Loredo, and Elijah Williams. Notably, all 11 members of the men’s team hail from the Central Valley, representing a unique local presence for Fresno State Athletics.
The women’s squad returns eight of nine runners from the previous year and had its best NCAA West Regional finish since 2013 in 2025. Junior Chiara Pedol leads the team and could challenge Fresno State’s all-time top-25 times in the 5K distance. Other notable runners include international competitor Nayla Martin and Rhiannon Walker.
Head coach Jason Drake, in his eighth season leading Fresno State cross country, and assistant coach McKaylie Caesar, a former All-American from Lindsay, California, are focused on testing their teams and building on recent successes. Drake noted the excitement in facing new courses and competitors and sees the invitational as a valuable opportunity to assess and advance the Bulldogs’ progress this season.
CSB Take
The Charles Bowles Invitational represents a pivotal early-season challenge for the Fresno State Bulldogs cross country teams. Competing outside their home state for the first time in several years provides a fresh measuring stick against familiar and new rivals. The men’s return to health and the women’s returning core, led by Chiara Pedol, signal potential breakthroughs in individual and team performance. How the Bulldogs capitalize on this opportunity could set the tenor for the remainder of their 2026 campaign.
Source: Original report
