Defending Champions Ready for 2026: De Anza Cross Country Announces Season Schedule

Fresh off one of the most successful seasons in program history, the De Anza College women's cross country team is preparing for another championship pursuit as they announce the 2026 schedule.

The Mountain Lions return with high expectations after an outstanding 2025 campaign.

The women's team enters the season as the defending Coast Conference and Northern California champions, while also placing fourth at the 3C2A State Championships.

"Last season established a tremendous foundation for our program," said Andy Ponce de Leon, who earned 2025 Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors.

"Our returning student-athletes bring valuable championship experience, and we've added depth throughout both rosters. That depth will be one of our greatest strengths as we compete throughout the season."

The Mountain Lions open the 2026 campaign on Saturday, September 5, at the Crush Invitational, hosted by Clovis Community College in Fresno. The meet also serves as the annual State Championship Preview, giving runners an early opportunity to compete on the same course that will host the 2026 3C2A State Championships in November.

Two weeks later, De Anza returns to action at the Butte Invitational on September 18 in Oroville. The event serves as the Northern California Championship Preview, allowing the Mountain Lions to familiarize themselves with the course that will determine regional titles later in the season.

The regular season continues with the Pink in the Park Invitational, hosted by Hartnell College on October 2, before the Lions travel north for the Pat Ryan Invitational, hosted by Santa Rosa Junior College on October 16.

The championship portion of the season begins on Thursday, October 29, when De Anza competes at the Coast Conference Championships, hosted by Chabot College in Fremont. The women's team will look to defend its conference crown, while the men's squad aims to climb one step higher after last year's runner-up finish.

One week later, the Mountain Lions return to Butte College for the Northern California Championships on November 6, where the women's team will defend its regional championship and both squads will compete for state championship qualification.

The season concludes on Saturday, November 21, at the 3C2A State Championships in Fresno. Returning to the same venue where the women finished fourth in the state a year ago, De Anza will look to build upon its recent championship success and once again compete among California's elite community college cross country programs.

With experienced returners, deeper rosters, and championship expectations on both the men's and women's sides, the Mountain Lions enter 2026 determined to add to an already impressive tradition of excellence.