Long Beach State University Athletics
Saturday, October 31
Riverside, Calif.
Long Beach State University
vs
Big West Championships
10/30/2026 3:00:00 PM | Cross Country
Long Beach State looks to improve on 2025's results before heading to West Regional.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State men's and women's cross country returns to the UC Riverside Ag/Ops Course for the Big West Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31.Â
BEACH BACKGROUND
The Beach men have won this meet seven times, most recently in 1983. Two Long Beach State runners have taken the individual title: Bob Macias in 1969 and Jim Sweeney in 1975. The women's best team finish is second, most recently in 2011. At last year's Big West Championships in Honolulu, the Beach men placed fifth, scoring 131 points with the women finishing eighth and logging 211 points. Cameron Rhone was the top Beach finisher, placing 14th overall, and Cameron Gill was 28th. On the women's side, Sharice Laygo placed 55th, Brooke Willoughby 57th and Darcy Ray 69th.
THE COURSE
The Ag/Ops loop looks fast and flat, but it isn't. The west end, around the 1.5-mile mark, sits about 100 feet lower than the start/finish area, so runners who go out too fast often pay for it on the way back. The route winds through citrus groves and over irrigation canals, and the wide running surface suits a big field. The Beach last raced the course on Sept. 19, when both teams placed 21st at the UC Riverside Invitational. Darcy Ray was the top women's finisher in 59th, and Cameron Rhone led the men in 45th. Head coach Devin Elizondo said Saturday will be a very different race, mainly because the field will be about half the size.
THE FIELD
With Utah Valley and California Baptist joining the Big West in 2026, the conference championships have a much different feel. Elizondo said the changes have shifted the dynamic of the league. He noted that Utah Valley brings an interesting interregional matchup and that its runners are used to racing at altitude. California Baptist is a serious addition on both sides. The CBU men competed at the 2025 NCAA Championships, and the women placed sixth at the West Regional a year ago. Elizondo expects both programs to push defending champion Cal Poly, which has swept the men's and women's titles four straight seasons, for the top spot.
Big West Championships
When: Saturday, Oct. 31
Men's 8K: 8:30 a.m.
Women's 6K: 9:15 a.m.
Where: UC Riverside Ag/Ops Course, Riverside, Calif.
Live Results: finishedresults.com/meets/14367
Tickets: highlandertickets.com
Course Map: UCR Course Map (PDF)
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BEACH BACKGROUND
The Beach men have won this meet seven times, most recently in 1983. Two Long Beach State runners have taken the individual title: Bob Macias in 1969 and Jim Sweeney in 1975. The women's best team finish is second, most recently in 2011. At last year's Big West Championships in Honolulu, the Beach men placed fifth, scoring 131 points with the women finishing eighth and logging 211 points. Cameron Rhone was the top Beach finisher, placing 14th overall, and Cameron Gill was 28th. On the women's side, Sharice Laygo placed 55th, Brooke Willoughby 57th and Darcy Ray 69th.
THE COURSE
The Ag/Ops loop looks fast and flat, but it isn't. The west end, around the 1.5-mile mark, sits about 100 feet lower than the start/finish area, so runners who go out too fast often pay for it on the way back. The route winds through citrus groves and over irrigation canals, and the wide running surface suits a big field. The Beach last raced the course on Sept. 19, when both teams placed 21st at the UC Riverside Invitational. Darcy Ray was the top women's finisher in 59th, and Cameron Rhone led the men in 45th. Head coach Devin Elizondo said Saturday will be a very different race, mainly because the field will be about half the size.
THE FIELD
With Utah Valley and California Baptist joining the Big West in 2026, the conference championships have a much different feel. Elizondo said the changes have shifted the dynamic of the league. He noted that Utah Valley brings an interesting interregional matchup and that its runners are used to racing at altitude. California Baptist is a serious addition on both sides. The CBU men competed at the 2025 NCAA Championships, and the women placed sixth at the West Regional a year ago. Elizondo expects both programs to push defending champion Cal Poly, which has swept the men's and women's titles four straight seasons, for the top spot.
Big West Championships
When: Saturday, Oct. 31
Men's 8K: 8:30 a.m.
Women's 6K: 9:15 a.m.
Where: UC Riverside Ag/Ops Course, Riverside, Calif.
Live Results: finishedresults.com/meets/14367
Tickets: highlandertickets.com
Course Map: UCR Course Map (PDF)
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Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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