Friday, September 4
Spartanburg, S.C.
6:30 PM ET
Liberty University
at
Eye Opener
Andrew Schultz (left) and Eli Julian (right) are set to race in Friday's Eye Opener in Spartanburg, S.C.
Liberty XC to Open 2026 Season in Spartanburg
9/2/2026 10:38:00 AM | Cross Country
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2026 season in the Palmetto State on Friday. Hosted by USC Upstate, the Eye Opener will take place at the Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg, S.C.
The women's 5K will get things started at 6:30 p.m. with the men's 8K to follow at 7:10. The races will enable runners to preview the course for the 2026 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Live results will be provided by TimingInc.com.
Weather Report
Friday's weather forecast projects a continuation of a hot week in the Southeast, with mostly sunny skies and a high in the mid-90s.
High Hopes
Liberty's two-time defending CUSA champion women's cross country team was picked to successfully defend its title in the preseason coaches poll. If successful, the Lady Flames would capture their third straight conference championship for the first time since winning five Mason-Dixon Conference crowns in succession between 1985 and 1989.
The Lady Flames were also tabbed 13th in the preseason NCAA Division I Southeast Region poll. They will face two other regionally ranked foes in Spartanburg, including South Carolina (No. 4 in Southeast Region, No. 16 nationally) and Clemson (No. 9 in Southeast Region).
The Liberty men's squad was tabbed second to defending champion Middle Tennessee in the CUSA preseason listing. A year ago, the Flames earned the runner-up spot, marking their 23rd consecutive top-two conference showing.
Like their female counterparts, the Flames check in at No. 13 to start the year in the NCAA Division I Southeast Region preseason poll.
Welcome Back
Allie Zealand headlines Liberty's impressive collection of returnees. A year ago, Zealand raced to the CUSA individual cross country title and placed 21st at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships for her first of three All-America honors as a sophomore.
Four of Zealand's teammates joined her in earning All-CUSA cross country recognition in 2025, including Rachel Hill (14th place), Ryann Aycock (16th), Kate Loescher (18th) and Mackenzie Babcock (21st). Meanwhile, Ava Gordon (ninth place) and Molly Lashley (13th) each collected All-CUSA medals in 2024 and are back for their final seasons.
On the men's side, the Flames bring back four of their five All-CUSA performers from 2025 including Andrew Schultz (sixth place), Edwin Kiprop (10th), Ethan Pedersen (11th) and Tristian Merchant (21st).
Fresh Faces
Six Flames are set to make their Liberty men's cross country debut on Friday, including team captain Bode Erickson, Grattan O'Neill and the true freshman quartet of Malachi Burnett, Eric Duncan, Michael Fritz and William Zealand. Zealand is the younger brother of Allie Zealand and the son of women's coach Heather Zealand.
Meanwhile, freshman Kaila Atteberry will be the only Lady Flame competing in her first collegiate cross country race on Friday.
Looking Back
The Liberty men's squad produced some positive results in Spartanburg in 2023. Tristian Merchant was the 2023 Eye Opener men's 8K individual champion in his Liberty cross country debut, leading the Flames to the team championship. Ten Liberty men's runners crossed the line inside the top 18, also including then freshman Ethan Pedersen (15th).
Two months later, Nicholas Kiprotich came in 17th in the 2023 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships contested at Milliken Research Park, successfully qualifying to the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
Up Next
For the third year in a row, Liberty will compete in the adidas XC Challenge, Sept. 18 in Cary, N.C. The men's 6K is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. with the women's 5K to follow at 5:55 at WakeMed Cross Country Course.
The women's 5K will get things started at 6:30 p.m. with the men's 8K to follow at 7:10. The races will enable runners to preview the course for the 2026 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
Live results will be provided by TimingInc.com.
Weather Report
Friday's weather forecast projects a continuation of a hot week in the Southeast, with mostly sunny skies and a high in the mid-90s.
High Hopes
Liberty's two-time defending CUSA champion women's cross country team was picked to successfully defend its title in the preseason coaches poll. If successful, the Lady Flames would capture their third straight conference championship for the first time since winning five Mason-Dixon Conference crowns in succession between 1985 and 1989.
The Lady Flames were also tabbed 13th in the preseason NCAA Division I Southeast Region poll. They will face two other regionally ranked foes in Spartanburg, including South Carolina (No. 4 in Southeast Region, No. 16 nationally) and Clemson (No. 9 in Southeast Region).
The Liberty men's squad was tabbed second to defending champion Middle Tennessee in the CUSA preseason listing. A year ago, the Flames earned the runner-up spot, marking their 23rd consecutive top-two conference showing.
Like their female counterparts, the Flames check in at No. 13 to start the year in the NCAA Division I Southeast Region preseason poll.
Welcome Back
Allie Zealand headlines Liberty's impressive collection of returnees. A year ago, Zealand raced to the CUSA individual cross country title and placed 21st at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships for her first of three All-America honors as a sophomore.
Four of Zealand's teammates joined her in earning All-CUSA cross country recognition in 2025, including Rachel Hill (14th place), Ryann Aycock (16th), Kate Loescher (18th) and Mackenzie Babcock (21st). Meanwhile, Ava Gordon (ninth place) and Molly Lashley (13th) each collected All-CUSA medals in 2024 and are back for their final seasons.
On the men's side, the Flames bring back four of their five All-CUSA performers from 2025 including Andrew Schultz (sixth place), Edwin Kiprop (10th), Ethan Pedersen (11th) and Tristian Merchant (21st).
Fresh Faces
Six Flames are set to make their Liberty men's cross country debut on Friday, including team captain Bode Erickson, Grattan O'Neill and the true freshman quartet of Malachi Burnett, Eric Duncan, Michael Fritz and William Zealand. Zealand is the younger brother of Allie Zealand and the son of women's coach Heather Zealand.
Meanwhile, freshman Kaila Atteberry will be the only Lady Flame competing in her first collegiate cross country race on Friday.
Looking Back
The Liberty men's squad produced some positive results in Spartanburg in 2023. Tristian Merchant was the 2023 Eye Opener men's 8K individual champion in his Liberty cross country debut, leading the Flames to the team championship. Ten Liberty men's runners crossed the line inside the top 18, also including then freshman Ethan Pedersen (15th).
Two months later, Nicholas Kiprotich came in 17th in the 2023 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships contested at Milliken Research Park, successfully qualifying to the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
Up Next
For the third year in a row, Liberty will compete in the adidas XC Challenge, Sept. 18 in Cary, N.C. The men's 6K is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. with the women's 5K to follow at 5:55 at WakeMed Cross Country Course.
Players Mentioned
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