SMU at John McKenzie Invitational
Friday, September 4 • 7:30 a.m. CT
AP Ranch Cross Country Course • Fort Worth, Texas
Live Results • SMU Mobile App • Race Notes

DALLAS (SMU) – SMU Cross Country will open the 2026 campaign at the John McKenzie Invitational this Friday, Sept. 3, at the AP Ranch Course in Fort Worth.
 
The 5k race will begin at 7:30 a.m. and fans can follow along with live stats found here.
 
This will be the first time since 2009 the Mustangs will compete at TCU's course. SMU won the Cross Country opener that year. Kristine Eikrem-Engeset led the way, finishing second in the 2-mile race. 
 
SMU enters the weekend ranked fifth in the South Central Region in the preseason rankings.
 
Head Coach 'A Havahla Haynes is entering her eighth season on the Hilltop leading the program, with SMU competing in its third season within the ACC. Haynes has guided the Mustangs to six team wins throughout her tenure.
 
With only two graduates last season, SMU returns eight runners, including standouts Rose Mburu and Carolina Correia, who both earned All-Region honors in 2025. Mburu qualified as an individual for the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
 
The Mustangs added four newcomers to the roster this season in Poppy Elton, Georgia Bell, Zara Pomfret and Mary Nyangate, strengthening an already talented roster. 
 
Following the John McKenzie Invitational, the team will travel to College Station for the Texas A&M Invitational Friday, Sept. 11.