NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont University Men's Cross Country team opens the 2026 season with a hometown race hosted by Vanderbilt University.
Formerly the Belmont Opener, this year's Vanderbilt Opener takes place at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. The men will take to the Vaughn's Gap Cross Country Course at 8:45 a.m. CT, following the women's race at 8 a.m.
Vanderbilt Cross Country will now carry on this Percy Warner Park tradition, which kicks off the Bruins'Â season and hosts several teams from around the southeast.
Head Coach Jeff Langdon is looking forward to seeing his team compete for the first time this season, and for the newcomers to get a taste of collegiate competition. Langdon hopes that the Bruins will use the opener to establish healthy pre-race routines that will allow them to perform at their mental and physical best throughout the season.
Veteran athletes such Drew Brill and Reuben Macdonald are returning to the course this year, alongside promising second-year Charley Townsend. Freshmen Carson Smith, Liam Powers, and others may turn heads as well according to Langdon.
The Bruins won last year's opener, nineteen points ahead of second-place Lipscomb.
How to Follow
Follow Belmont Cross Country on social media - @BelmontXCTF on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontxctf on Instagram, and @BUXCTF on Facebook for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
#ItsBruinTime
