TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati cross country teams open the 2026 season Friday at the RedHawk Rumble, hosted by Miami University.
The men's 6K starts at 9 a.m., followed by the women's 5K at 9:40 a.m.
Cincinnati is led by first-year head coach Gabby Gaudreault, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Loyola Chicago.
During Gaudreault's tenure at Loyola Chicago, the Ramblers swept the 2025 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships, winning both the men's and women's team titles for the third time in four years. The men's team also earned the program's first appearance in the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Coaches' Poll.
"Tomorrow sets the tone for the season," Gaudreault said. "Both men's and women's teams have put in good base work over the summer, and with competitions starting, we will know how to further sharpen our tools for success for the rest of the season and, most importantly, championship season."
// BEARCATS WOMEN BUILD ON STRONG RETURNING GROUP
Nine returners headline the Bearcats' women's roster, led by sophomore Abby Sewell, who is joined by four newcomers — two freshmen and two transfers.
Sewell earned All-Great Lakes Region honors as a freshman last season and qualified for the U20 World Cross Country Championships, where she placed fourth in the 6K (22:03.1). She was a top UC finisher in every meet and capped the year with a 12th-place regional finish.
Freshman Ava Moric joins from Hanover, Ontario, where she won multiple OFSAA provincial titles in cross country, the 1,500 and the 3,000, plus indoor national titles in the 1,500 and 800 as a senior. Freshman Eloanne Le Corre comes from club EASQY in France, progressing each season to a 14th-place finish at the 2025-26 National Cross Country Championship with a 1,500 best of 4:31.86.
Sophomore Minori Hudson transfers in from Western Illinois, where she ran a 6K best of 22:41.1 at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships. Fifth-year Jamie Klavon arrives from crosstown rival Xavier, where she ran a 10K personal best of 36:51.42 to place fourth at the 2024 Virginia Challenge.
// PROVEN CORE, NEW FIREPOWER LIFT BEARCATS MEN
Seven runners return for the Cincinnati men, headlined by junior Lucas Towne, who is joined by two transfers and one freshman.
Towne placed second or third on the team in all six races last season, finishing runner-up in the overall field at both the RedHawk Rumble and Angel Mounds Invitational. He set an 8K personal best of 23:35.1 at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational and finished 38th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
Freshman Caden Winship joins from William Mason High School, where he was the 2025 Greater Miami Conference Runner of the Year after running 14:55 in the 5K and sweeping GMC titles in cross country, the 1,600m and the 3,200m.
Senior Youssef Asslouj transfers in from Texas A&M with a decorated résumé, including NAIA indoor national titles in the 3,000m (2024, 2025), first-team All-American honors in cross country and multiple events, and 2025 USTFCCCA South Central All-Region recognition. He posted personal bests of 23:17.8 in the 8K and 30:23.5 in the 10K last season.
Fifth-year Mohamed Boutaguia joins from Iowa Western Community College, where he recorded five top-five finishes last outdoor season across the 800, 1,500, 4x800 and distance medley relay.