AZUSA, Calif. — The Azusa Pacific men's and women's cross country programs unveiled their 2025 competition schedule on Monday, featuring a balanced slate of premier West Coast invitationals and a postseason stretch that includes a return to Hawai'i for the PacWest Championships and potential runs at the NCAA West Regional and National Championships.
The Cougars, led by head coach Jebreh Harris, will open the fall with four regular season meets before transitioning into championship competition in late October. The 2025 campaign is built for postseason readiness, with each meet providing opportunities to compete against high-level regional and national opponents.
2025 APU Cross Country Schedule At a Glance
Friday, September 12 — Biola Invitational
Ted Craig Regional Park | Fullerton, Calif.
Men 8K – 8:45 a.m. | Women 5K – 9:30 a.m.
Azusa Pacific returns to the Biola Invitational for the first time since 2021, where the men finished third and the women placed fourth. This early-season test provides an opportunity to set the tone against PacWest and regional foes.
Saturday, September 20 — UC Riverside Invitational
UCR Agricultural Operations Course | Riverside, Calif.
Women 6K – 7:15 a.m. | Men 8K – 7:50 a.m.
The Cougars make their third consecutive appearance at one of the premier invitationals in the West. With a traditionally deep field of Division I and II programs, the UCR Invite serves as a mid-September benchmark for both squads.
Saturday, October 4 — Pomona-Pitzer Invitational
Claremont, Calif.
Men 8K – 7:45 a.m. | Women 6K – 8:30 a.m.
Both squads return to Claremont for the first time since 2023. That year, the Cougar women finished fifth overall, led by senior Grace Echelbarger, who placed 21st with a time of 23:40.8, and Janelle Santos, who crossed in 26th (23:50.3). The men placed ninth and will look to improve in 2025.
Friday, October 10 — San Francisco State Invitational
Golden Gate Park | San Francisco, Calif.
Women 6K – 3:30 p.m. | Men 8K – 4:15 p.m.
Azusa Pacific will make its program debut at the San Francisco State Invitational, racing through the historic and scenic layout of Golden Gate Park. The afternoon start will simulate postseason conditions while offering one final tune-up before championship season begins.
Saturday, October 25 — PacWest Championships
Hawai'i Country Club | Waipahu, Hawai'i | Hosted by Hawai'i Pacific University
The Cougar men pursue a third consecutive PacWest title after back-to-back conference crowns in 2023 and 2024. The last time the championships were held on O?ahu in 2021, the men finished second. The APU women, fourth-place finishers last fall, look to replicate or surpass their third-place result from the 2021 Hawai'i edition.
Saturday, November 8 — NCAA Division II West Regional
Ash Creek Preserve | Monmouth, Ore. | Hosted by Western Oregon University
The postseason continues at one of the top cross country venues in the West Region. The Cougar men, ranked among the region's elite, are seeking a fourth consecutive team berth to the NCAA Championships after finishing fifth in 2024 and second at Ash Creek in 2023. The women placed 13th last season and 10th the last time Regionals were held in Monmouth.
Saturday, November 22 — NCAA Division II National Championships
Wayne E. Dannehl National Course | Kenosha, Wis. | Hosted by Wisconsin-Parkside
The Cougars have established themselves on the national stage, with the men qualifying as a team in three straight seasons, finishing 19th (2024), 10th (2023), and 21st (2022). The 2025 squad will look to build upon that legacy and secure another top-20 finish or better. Should the women qualify, it would mark their first team appearance at the NCAA Championships since joining NCAA Division II.
Coach Jebreh Harris on the 2025 Slate:
"We have a competitive and exciting schedule this fall. We've graduated a lot of great veterans and conference champions from last year's teams. We have a younger men's team and return most of our women's team from last year. We are looking forward to taking hold of the opportunities presented to us as we venture into our last PacWest season. We have solid leadership and chemistry on both teams and I trust our leaders will continue to guide us with integrity and grit.""
Follow @APUCougars on social media and visit athletics.apu.edu for meet coverage, athlete features, and results throughout the 2025 season.
