Wisconsin Badgers
John McNichols Invitational
Five things to know: Badgers travel to Terre Haute for the John McNichols Invitational
September 16, 2026 | Women's Cross Country
UW hits the road for the first time this season
MADISON, Wis – The Wisconsin women's cross country team will compete in the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course. The women's 6K championship race is set to start at 7:30 a.m. CT followed by the women's open 6K at 8:40 a.m.
Race will be streamed on Runnerspace and live results will be posted on Midwest Timing. Fans can also follow @badgertrackxc on Instagram and X for updates.
1. GETTING A LAY OF THE LAND: The Badgers will hope to get well acquainted with the LaVern Gibson Championship Course this weekend in anticipation of the 2026 NCAA Cross Country Championships that will be held in Terre Haute in November.
2. A BLAST FROM THE PAST: Wisconsin's last time in Terre Haute was 2022, when they took 5th in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on the course. This will be the first time any of the roster has raced on this course.
3. TOP COMPETITION: The John McNichols Invitational will feature a highly competitive field, including many teams who will make an appearance at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on October 9. Major USTFCCCA-ranked programs, including No. 14 Florida, No. 18 Colorado, and No. 20 Utah, will race in Terre Haute on Saturday.
4. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Cardinal and White started the season strong by sweeping the Badger Classic at home. They finished with 15 points, followed by No. 11 Northwestern with 40 points. Junior Liv Phillips won the race, closely followed by seniors Mikaela Helling and Myra Stray.
5. UP NEXT: Next week, the Badgers head to the Windy City for the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational hosted by Loyola Chicago on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course. The race is set to start at 9:00 a.m. with two races per gender.
