Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, October 3
Salem, OR
TBA
Fresno State
at
Charles Bowles Invitational
Bulldogs Ready to Race at Charles Bowles Invitational
10/2/2026 12:49:00 PM | Cross Country
CHARLES BOWLES INVITATIONAL
October 3, 2026 | Salem, Oregon | McCulloch Stadium and Bush Park
Men's 8k – 9:30 a.m. PT | Women's 5k – 10:20 a.m. PT
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COVERAGE
Live Results: Athletic Timing
X: @FresnoStateTFXC
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FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State cross country team is back on the course this weekend at the Charles Bowles Invitational in Salem, Oregon.
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The Bulldogs head to McCulloch Stadium and Bush Park to compete in two races: the men's 8k at 9:30 a.m. PT and the women's 5k at 10:20 a.m. PT.
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A CHANGE OF SCENERY
BACK AT FULL STRENGTH
FAMILIAR COMPETITION
CHASING THE RECORD BOOK
THE 2026 SQUAD
LEADERS OF THE PACK
FOR THE V
DRAKE'S TAKES
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October 3, 2026 | Salem, Oregon | McCulloch Stadium and Bush Park
Men's 8k – 9:30 a.m. PT | Women's 5k – 10:20 a.m. PT
Â
COVERAGE
Live Results: Athletic Timing
X: @FresnoStateTFXC
Â
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State cross country team is back on the course this weekend at the Charles Bowles Invitational in Salem, Oregon.
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The Bulldogs head to McCulloch Stadium and Bush Park to compete in two races: the men's 8k at 9:30 a.m. PT and the women's 5k at 10:20 a.m. PT.
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A CHANGE OF SCENERY
- Fresno State will venture outside California for this weekend's meet.
- This is the first time the Bulldogs have competed outside of California during the regular season since 2018.
- The Bulldogs will race on an unfamiliar course and see a different group of teams than they typically encounter during the regular season.
- The change provides Fresno State an opportunity to test itself against new competition as the season progresses.
BACK AT FULL STRENGTH
- The Bulldog men enter the meet in better health after illness affected several runners at the UC Riverside Invitational.
- With the group feeling better, Fresno State will look for a stronger showing from its men's lineup this weekend.
- The women are also looking to build on a solid performance at UC Riverside.
FAMILIAR COMPETITION
- Fresno State will get another opportunity to measure itself against Hawai'i after competing against the Rainbow Wahine at the UC Riverside Invitational.
- The Bulldogs will also see Saint Mary's again after the two programs competed at the season-opening Gaucho Twilight.
- Fresno State will look to close the gap against both teams after they finished ahead of the Bulldogs in the previous meetings.
CHASING THE RECORD BOOK
- The women will compete in a 5K this weekend, giving several Bulldogs an opportunity to make a run at Fresno State's all-time top-25 list in the event.
- Chiara Pedol, Rhiannon Walker, Ashley and Nayla are among the Bulldogs with a chance to break into the program's top 25.
- Pedol could also challenge the upper end of Fresno State's all-time 5K performances after a strong start to the season.
- The Bulldogs will be looking to translate their recent training and race performances into fast times on a new course.
THE 2026 SQUAD
- The Fresno State women's cross country team returns eight out of nine runners from the 2025 team.Â
- Last season, the women's team had its best finish in the NCAA West Regional since 2013.
- The Bulldogs' top runner, Chiara Pedol, who led Fresno State in every race last season, returns for her junior season. She is joined by fellow international runner Nayla Martin as one of the Bulldogs' top runners.
- The men's team returns four out of five runners from last season, including team-leaders Noah Graffigna and Emilio Nunez.
- Jaden Tungate, Enrique Loredo and Elijah Williams also return to the Bulldog squad.
LEADERS OF THE PACK
- Head Coach Jason Drake enters his eighth season leading the Bulldogs.
- This year, he is joined by assistant coach McKaylie Caesar, a former All-American cross country runner born and raised in the Central Valley in Lindsay, Calif.
FOR THE V
- The Fresno State cross country team boasts 24 athletes from the Valley.
- All 11 of the runners on the men's team originate from Valley cities, making them the only team on Fresno State's campus that is fully represented by Valley natives.
DRAKE'S TAKES
- "It will be refreshing to get on a new course and see some different competition this weekend," head coach Jason Drake said.
- "We're looking forward to another opportunity to compete with Hawai'i and Saint Mary's, and with the women running a 5K, we have several athletes who could make a run at our program's top-25 list." Coach Drake added. "It should be a good opportunity to see where we are and continue building as a team."
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Players Mentioned
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