NEW YORK — Columbia's Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Daniel Ireland has announced the 2025 cross country schedule, with the season-opening race set for Saturday, September 6 at the Fordham Fiasco in the Bronx. 

In addition, the 2025-26 track & field schedule has been revealed, set to begin on December 5 with the Rutgers Holiday Classic at the Armory. 

After the cross country season begins at Van Cortlandt Park with the meet hosted by the Rams, the Lions will remain home the following weekend for another VCP meet with the Iona Meet of Champions on Friday, September 12.

Following two weekends off, the Lions will compete in back-to-back meets on Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4. First up will be the Paul Short Run, followed by the Louisville Cross Country Classic.

The Lions continue the cross country slate at the METS Championships hosted by NJIT on Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m. The following weekend, they will compete at the IC4A/ECAC Championships, on the morning of October 17, at Van Cortlandt Park with the Princeton Invitational taking place later that day in New Jersey.

Columbia will host this year's Ivy League Heps at VCP. The biggest race of the season is set for 11 a.m. on Friday, October 31. 
 
The NCAA Northeast Regionals will be hosted in Hopkinton, New Hampshire on Friday, November 14. 

The following weekend, the University of Missouri will play host to the NCAA Championships which will be held on Saturday, November 22 at 10:00 a.m.

The indoor track & field season is set to begin on Friday, December 5 with the Rutgers Holiday Classic. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. at the Armory. 

The Lions will host the annual Dr. Sander Scorcher at the Armory on January 23 and January 24. 

Columbia's furthest road trip of the indoor campaign will be to Boston twice for the BU Sharon Colyear Danville Season Opener on Saturday, December 6 at 3 p.m. BU Valentine Invitational on Friday, February 14 at 10 a.m.

The Ivy League Indoor Heps are set for February 28 and March 1, and will be hosted at the Armory. 

For any Lions who qualify, the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships will also be held at the University of Arkansas and begin on Friday, March 14. 

The outdoor season will begin on Saturday, March 21 with the Penn Challenge. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. in Philadelphia. 

From the end of March to the beginning of May, the Lions will compete in 10 different meets, including key events such as the Raleigh Relays (March 26-27), Sam Howell Invite (April 4), Virginia Challenge (April 17), and the historic Penn Relays (April 23–25).

The Ivy League Outdoor Heps are set for Saturday, May 16 and will be hosted by Princeton. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. in New Jersey. 

For any Lions who qualify, the NCAA Outdoor Prelims will be held on May 28 in Lexington, Kentucky and the NCAA Championships will take place on June 11 in Oregon. 

 
Stay up to date on all things Columbia cross country and track & field by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsXCTF), Instagram (@culionsxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).