Florida State University Athletics
Florida State
Pre-Regional
Cross Country Begins Campaign at Home
9/17/2026 12:00:00 PM | Cross Country, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State cross country teams kick off its 2026 season at home for pre-regionals on Friday, September 18 at Apalachee Regional Park.
The men's 8k will take place at 7:40 a.m., with the women's 6k race to follow at approximately 8:20 a.m. Admission and parking are free for all participating teams and spectators. Fans can rely on PTTiming for live results.
This year's women's team will once again be led by Cody Halsey, who enters her third season at Florida State, while Ryan Murphy begins his second season at the helm of the men's team.
The last time Florida State competed at Apalachee Regional Park was earlier this year during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, when six former Seminoles returned to their roots. Former Seminole Linden Hall represented Australia and captured a gold medal in the mixed relay.
The women's program returns 11 runners who helped Florida State place sixth at last year's South Regional Championship that saw three All-Region performers, led by returners Bieke Schipperen and Rylee Blade. Schipperen notched her second straight All-ACC and All-Region honors last year en route to a second consecutive national championship appearance.
Sophomore Blade will look to continue her winning ways after earning two ACC Performer of the Week honors, tying the second-most in program history within a single season. The Corona, California, native became Florida State's top finisher in three consecutive meets, before making her first career appearance at the 2025 Cross Country National Championship.
Transfer Bella Grenier is set to debut for the Seminoles for the first time after transferring from Wisconsin. The Badgers finished sixth at last year's Big Ten Championships before closing out the 2025 season in the top 30 of the NCAA Cross Country National Championships.
On the men's side, the team returns seven members from their roster last season, led by Isaac Hirshman Chandler and Kaden Levings. Chandler was a dominant force for the men's squad, earning All-Region honors and qualifying for his first Cross Country National Championship. The Spain native led Florida State in four consecutive races in his debut season as a Seminole last year.
Transfer Graham Myers will look to bring in veteran leadership after transferring from the University of Florida. Myers finished in the top 100 of the SEC Cross Country Championships and was a three-time FHSAA top-3 finisher during his high school career.
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