University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, October 30
Blacksburg, Va.
10:00 a.m.
North Carolina
vs
ACC Championship
October 29, 2026 | Cross Country
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina cross country opens postseason competition Friday, Oct. 30, as both the men's and women's programs travel to Blacksburg, Va., for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course.
The competition begins with the men's 8K at 10:10 a.m., followed by the women's 6K at 11 a.m.
The Carolina men will face a competitive ACC field featuring four nationally ranked programs. Syracuse leads the field at No. 8, followed by Wake Forest (No. 10), Stanford (No. 13) and Notre Dame (No. 15). The Tar Heels enter the championship ranked No. 27 in the poll.
Last season, Virginia captured the men's team title, while Carolina finished sixth. Two Tar Heels earned All-ACC honors, with former Carolina standouts Colton Sands and Tomer Tarragano each finishing in the top 10.
The Carolina men's cross country program has won 10 ACC titles, most recently in 2023, when Parker Wolfe claimed the individual championship.
On the women's side, Carolina enters the championship ranked No. 19 nationally and will compete against seven other ranked programs. NC State leads the women's field at No. 2 after spending much of the season ranked No. 1 before the Pre-Nationals Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. In addition to the two programs out of the Tar Heel State, Notre Dame (No. 8), Clemson (No. 14), Virginia Tech (No. 20), Stanford (No. 21), Virginia (No. 22) and Duke (No. 24) enter the championship ranked nationally.
The Carolina women have captured four ACC team titles and produced eight individual champions.
The Tar Heels have also earned conference recognition throughout the season. Ciara O'Shea was named ACC Performer of the Week following her individual victory at the Virginia Invitational, while Caden Leonard has earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors three times.
The ACC Championships will be broadcast on ESPN+, with live results available here.
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The competition begins with the men's 8K at 10:10 a.m., followed by the women's 6K at 11 a.m.
The Carolina men will face a competitive ACC field featuring four nationally ranked programs. Syracuse leads the field at No. 8, followed by Wake Forest (No. 10), Stanford (No. 13) and Notre Dame (No. 15). The Tar Heels enter the championship ranked No. 27 in the poll.
Last season, Virginia captured the men's team title, while Carolina finished sixth. Two Tar Heels earned All-ACC honors, with former Carolina standouts Colton Sands and Tomer Tarragano each finishing in the top 10.
The Carolina men's cross country program has won 10 ACC titles, most recently in 2023, when Parker Wolfe claimed the individual championship.
On the women's side, Carolina enters the championship ranked No. 19 nationally and will compete against seven other ranked programs. NC State leads the women's field at No. 2 after spending much of the season ranked No. 1 before the Pre-Nationals Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. In addition to the two programs out of the Tar Heel State, Notre Dame (No. 8), Clemson (No. 14), Virginia Tech (No. 20), Stanford (No. 21), Virginia (No. 22) and Duke (No. 24) enter the championship ranked nationally.
The Carolina women have captured four ACC team titles and produced eight individual champions.
The Tar Heels have also earned conference recognition throughout the season. Ciara O'Shea was named ACC Performer of the Week following her individual victory at the Virginia Invitational, while Caden Leonard has earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors three times.
The ACC Championships will be broadcast on ESPN+, with live results available here.
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Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Friday, October 30
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, October 29