Pepperdine Releases 2023 Cross Country Schedule

MALIBU, California After another strong skiing season as head coach Lauren FlorisWith a second season at the helm of the program, Pepperdine’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are eager to get back on the track and have announced the fall 2023 schedule today.

“This season features some of our perennial favorites with fast courses and competition, as well as new races like LMU’s South Bay Twilight Invitational,” Floris said.

The 2023 schedule is highlighted by the Waves Invitational, held at picturesque Alumni Park. Last season, the Waves women finished first and the men second in the match. Additionally, for the first time since 2013, Pepperdine will host this year’s West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships.

“I’m very excited to have not just one home meet, but two,” Floris added. “It was great to see our Pepperdine community come out to support our team at the Waves Invite last year, and again this season the WCC Championships will be held at Alumni Park.”

The full schedule is as follows:

• Friday, September 1: LMU South Bay Twilight (Los Angeles, CA; hosted by Loyola Marymount)

• Saturday, September 9: Waves Invitational (Malibu, Calif.; host: Pepperdine)

• Saturday, September 16: UC Riverside Invitational (Riverside, Calif.; host: UC Riverside)

• Saturday, October 14: Bronco Invitational (Sunnyvale, Calif.; host: Santa Clara)

• Saturday, October 28: WCC Championships (Malibu, Calif.; host: Pepperdine)

• Friday, Nov. 10: NCAA West Regional (Sacramento, Calif.; host: Sacramento State)

• Saturday, Nov. 18: NCAA Championships (Panorama Farms, Va.; host: Virginia)

Pepperdine’s men are coming off a seventh-place finish at the 2022 WCC Championships along with three top-10 finishes from six races last season. The Waves women posted their best finish at the 2022 WCC Championships since 2014 with a ninth-place finish. The women also had three top-10 finishes in six races last season, including a first-place finish at the Waves Invitational on Oct. 1, 2022.

Pepperdine returns 25 runners from last year’s team, including 14 from the men’s team and 11 from the women’s team. Waves brings 13 newcomers to the team, four of which are on the men’s side and nine on the women’s side.