BOONE, N.C. — App State Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
Damion McLean and men's and women's distance coaches
Brad Herbster and
Annie Richards announced the 2025 cross country schedule on Friday.
The season will feature two home meets at the Don Kennedy Trails at State Farm in Boone for the Mountaineers, who swept Sun Belt Conference titles in 2024.
"Our upcoming cross country season will feature a young team with a lot of depth," Richards said. "Thanks to the efforts of our community and support of the program, we will be able to host home meets at State Farm, which has recovered from the effects of Hurricane Helene. After opening up the season at home, we will have several competitive opportunities to test our strength against conference and regional teams and prepare for the championship segment of our schedule."
App State will open its 2025 slate in Boone with the Covered Bridge Open on Aug. 29. The women's 5K race is slated for 9:15 a.m., with the men's 6K to follow at 9:45 a.m.
In September, the Mountaineers will preview the NCAA regional course on Sept. 12 as they head to Charlottesville, Va., for the Virginia Invitational. Returning to Boone for the Firetower Project Run on Oct. 3, the Black and Gold will compete in the men's 8K, slated for 5 p.m., and the women's 6K at 5:40 p.m. On Oct. 17, the Mountaineers will close out the regular season with a trip to Princeton, N.J., for the Princeton Fall Classic.
"For the men, the schedule reflects a shift from back-to-back Sun Belt titles to national ambitions, reflecting the team's determination," Herbster said. "Our home opener is a key early season test on familiar turf. We'll also have a great opportunity to see the regional course at Virginia before we return to Boone to host the Firetower Project Run and bring regional teams to the High Country to energize the home crowd. The meet at Princeton promises outstanding competition and another chance for us to measure up against nationally ranked programs. This progressive schedule is designed to bridge the gap between conference excellence and national prominence, setting the stage for a breakthrough campaign in 2025."
On Oct. 31, the men's and women's teams look to continue their title runs at the 2025 Sun Belt Cross Country Championships in Foley, Ala. The men's squad won consecutive team titles in 2023 and 2024 under Herbster's direction, also earning Herbster a pair of SBC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors. The Black and Gold totaled 30 points at the 2024 championships, two points more than their 2023 total of 28, which had been the lowest point total at the SBC Championships since 2013.
Ethan Lipham, who returns this year for his senior season, was the first Mountaineer to cross the finish line, placing fourth with an 8K time of 24:40.60.
The women's team secured its first Sun Belt team title since 2018 and the first under the direction of Richards, who earned SBC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year recognition. The Mountaineers totaled 45 points, which was 61 fewer than runner-up Arkansas State's 106 points.
Between the men's and women's programs, the Mountaineers collected 16 SBC accolades for their performances, including a sweep of men's and women's SBC Cross Country Freshman of the Year awards.
Breanna Budzinski and
Henry Stark, who were the first freshmen to cross the finish line at the conference meet in the women's and men's races, respectively, last year, will return to the course for their sophomore seasons this fall.
The NCAA Southeast Regional will be hosted by Virginia at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va., on Nov. 14, and the NCAA Championships are slated for Nov. 22 in Columbia, Mo.
2025 Men's & Women's Cross Country Schedule
Aug. 29 - Covered Bridge Open - Boone, N.C.
Sept. 12 - Virginia Invitational - Charlottesville, Va.
Oct. 3 - Firetower Project Run - Boone, N.C.
Oct. 17 - Princeton Fall Classic - Princeton, N.J.
Oct. 31 - Sun Belt Championships - Foley, Ala.
Nov. 14 - NCAA Southeast Regional - Charlottesville, Va.
Nov. 22 - NCAA Championships - Columbia, Mo.
