Cross Country returns for 2026 campaign at Gaucho Twilight

GAUCHO TWILIGHT
September 3, 2026 | Lompoc, Calif. | Mission Club Golf Course
Women's 4k – 6 p.m. PT | Men's 5k – 6:25 p.m. PT

COVERAGE
Live Results: Finished Results
X: @FresnoStateTFXC

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State cross country team is back for the 2026 season, beginning the year at the Gaucho Twilight hosted by UC Santa Barbara.

The Bulldogs are headed to Mission Club Golf Course in Lompoc, California, to compete in two races: the women's 4k beginning at 6 p.m. PT and the men's 5k at 6:25 p.m. PT.

TALE OF THE TERRAIN

Mission Club Golf Course is a 2000m loop, all-grass course, except for the golf cart path/sidewalk, crossed six times per loop.
It is a relatively flat course with a slight incline to start and a slight downhill coming back.

THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

The Bulldogs have entered the Gaucho Twilight race for the first time.
Fresno State will compete against host UCSB, Cal Poly, Saint Mary's, and several junior college opponents.

THE 2026 SQUAD

The Fresno State women's cross country team returns eight out of nine runners from the 2025 team.
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.

BULLDOG DEBUT

The Fresno State men's team will feature four runners in their Bulldog debut at the Gaucho Twilight: Matthew Wong, Ivan Barranco, Michael Herrera and David Servin-Chavez.
On the women's side, Brooklyn Bawanan will run in her first meet as a Bulldog this week.

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

"I'm excited to get the year started and see where we are at," Head Coach Jason Drake said. "This is a little different than our first meet in the past. It will be good to have a change of scenery, and the shorter race distance allows us to continue to train this week and prepare for the later part of the schedule."
"We have an experienced squad, and that is something that I haven't had in my time here in Fresno," Drake added. "Coming out of Covid a handful of years ago, we had 3 women and 5 men on the team. Now we have full rosters on both sides, and some talented athletes."

Cross Country returns for 2026 campaign at Gaucho Twilight

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Players Mentioned

Ivan Barranco

Brooklyn Bawanan

Noah Graffigna

Enrique Loredo

Nayla Martin

Emilio Nunez

Chiara Pedol

Michael Rendon

David Servin-Chavez

Jaden Tungate

Elijah Williams

Matthew Wong

Fresno State Athletics

Cross Country returns for 2026 campaign at Gaucho Twilight

Next Event

Related News

Players Mentioned

Ivan Barranco

Brooklyn Bawanan

Noah Graffigna

Enrique Loredo

Nayla Martin

Emilio Nunez

Chiara Pedol

Michael Rendon

David Servin-Chavez

Jaden Tungate

Elijah Williams

Matthew Wong

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