USATF Cross Country Championships joins forces with Nike Cross Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field and Nike announced today that Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) will serve as host to the 2025-26 USATF Cross Country Championships on December 6-7 in Portland, Oregon.

Hosted annually for nearly 20 years and the culmination of eight regional qualifying meets, NXN has been the pinnacle of competition for the best and brightest high school cross country stars. Now, the event is set to get even bigger as U20, Masters, and elite runners from across the nation converge on Portland’s Glendoveer Golf Course for a weekend of cross country clashes.

“We are thrilled to announce that the 2025-26 USATF Cross Country Championships will be held alongside Nike Cross Nationals,” USATF CEO Max Siegel said. “NXN has historically brought together some of the brightest young stars for a competitive environment like none other, and with a home world championships on the horizon, we can’t wait to celebrate the talent and grit on display for two days of cross country competition.”

The 2025-26 USATF Cross Country Championships will serve as a selection event for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, set to be held on home soil in Tallahassee, Florida on January 10.

For the first time, the USATF Cross Country Championships will include a 2 km race which will serve as a selection for four athletes to represent the U.S. in the mixed 4x2 km relay in Tallahassee.

Competition will kick off with high school stars at center stage for NXN before the elites toe the line to race for team qualification in the open 2 km and 10 km races. The U20 races will cap off day one as they race for a Team USATF spot and Masters will take the spotlight on the second day of racing.

In addition to national titles and team qualification, a $30,000 prize purse is on the line for the open races and $5,000 will go to the top Masters competitors.

More information about the 2025-26 USATF Cross Country Championships, including selection procedures, can be found here.