University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Set to Open 2026 Season at Covered Bridge Invite
September 03, 2026 | Cross Country
BOONE, N.C. — The Georgia men's and women's cross country teams are set to open the 2026 season at Appalachian State's Covered Bridge Invite, held Friday morning at the State Farm Field.
The Bulldogs' return to Boone, North Carolina, for the season opener marks the first regular-season meet of the teams' three-meet 2026 schedule. Last season the Bulldog men finished first overall, while the women took second.
Georgia is under the guidance of third-year head coach Adam Tribble. Last season, Tribble led the Bulldog men to their first USTFCCCA rankings appearance since the 2013 season. He helped guide the Georgia men to a runner-up finish at the conference meet as well as an NCAA Championship qualifying berth for the first time in 12 years. Tribble is joined this season by assistant coach Katie Althoff.
The Bulldog men open the season nationally ranked in both the USTFCCCA rankings. In the coaches poll, Georgia sits at No. 20, which marks the first time the Bulldogs have been ranked in the preseason polls since 2016. The Georgia men are also nationally ranked in the new XCRI ranking system at No. 23. Additionally, the Bulldogs are projected to finish fourth at the conference meet and second overall in the south region.
Georgia returns a pair of All-Region runners in Conner Rutherford and Ryan Olree. Olree also earned All-SEC honors last season at the conference meet after leading the Bulldogs to a second-place finish at the conference meet. Sophomore Kristers Kudlis also returns following a successful freshman campaign.
The Bulldogs add Cal Baptist graduate transfer Valentin Socas to the squad this season. Socas' 2025 resume includes an All-Region finish at the West Regional, an individual WAC championship and WAC Athlete of the Year honors. Additionally, Socas helped lead Cal Baptist to a conference title and a NCAA Championship berth. Senior LSU transfer Casey Goetschel also joins the squad this season.
The Bulldogs also added four freshmen to the roster this season: JD Daniel, Bertold Kalasz, Alex Lennon and Jameson Pifer.
On the women's side, nine Lady Bulldogs return to the roster for competition this season. Two of Georgia's top returning runners are sophomore Anastasia Nilsson and junior Izzy Yonas. Last season, both runners led the Lady Bulldogs and narrowly missed earning All-SEC and All-Region honors.
Two new faces join the Bulldog women this fall: junior Ceyda Pinar and freshman Nancy Taylor. Pinar was previously an All-Conference runner at Cal Baptist before making the move to Athens.
The 2026 preseason projections rank the Bulldog women No. 15 in the conference and No. 11 in the South Region.
Competition will begin at 9 a.m. ET on Friday morning with the men's 6K race, followed by the women's 5K race at 9:35 a.m. ET.
Men's 6K • 9 AM ET
JD Dainel
Casey Goetschel
Bertold Kalasz
Kristers Kudlis
Alex Lennon
Ryan Olree
Jameson Pifer
Conner Rutherford
Women's 5K • 9:35 AM ET
Madeleine Holland
Lucy Jones
Erin Musty
Anastasia Nilsson
Ceyda Pinar
Addison Scott
Lauren Skeens
Nancy Taylor
Maeve Waddell
Elise Woddell
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' cross country season will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
The Bulldogs' return to Boone, North Carolina, for the season opener marks the first regular-season meet of the teams' three-meet 2026 schedule. Last season the Bulldog men finished first overall, while the women took second.
Georgia is under the guidance of third-year head coach Adam Tribble. Last season, Tribble led the Bulldog men to their first USTFCCCA rankings appearance since the 2013 season. He helped guide the Georgia men to a runner-up finish at the conference meet as well as an NCAA Championship qualifying berth for the first time in 12 years. Tribble is joined this season by assistant coach Katie Althoff.
The Bulldog men open the season nationally ranked in both the USTFCCCA rankings. In the coaches poll, Georgia sits at No. 20, which marks the first time the Bulldogs have been ranked in the preseason polls since 2016. The Georgia men are also nationally ranked in the new XCRI ranking system at No. 23. Additionally, the Bulldogs are projected to finish fourth at the conference meet and second overall in the south region.
Georgia returns a pair of All-Region runners in Conner Rutherford and Ryan Olree. Olree also earned All-SEC honors last season at the conference meet after leading the Bulldogs to a second-place finish at the conference meet. Sophomore Kristers Kudlis also returns following a successful freshman campaign.
The Bulldogs add Cal Baptist graduate transfer Valentin Socas to the squad this season. Socas' 2025 resume includes an All-Region finish at the West Regional, an individual WAC championship and WAC Athlete of the Year honors. Additionally, Socas helped lead Cal Baptist to a conference title and a NCAA Championship berth. Senior LSU transfer Casey Goetschel also joins the squad this season.
The Bulldogs also added four freshmen to the roster this season: JD Daniel, Bertold Kalasz, Alex Lennon and Jameson Pifer.
On the women's side, nine Lady Bulldogs return to the roster for competition this season. Two of Georgia's top returning runners are sophomore Anastasia Nilsson and junior Izzy Yonas. Last season, both runners led the Lady Bulldogs and narrowly missed earning All-SEC and All-Region honors.
Two new faces join the Bulldog women this fall: junior Ceyda Pinar and freshman Nancy Taylor. Pinar was previously an All-Conference runner at Cal Baptist before making the move to Athens.
The 2026 preseason projections rank the Bulldog women No. 15 in the conference and No. 11 in the South Region.
Competition will begin at 9 a.m. ET on Friday morning with the men's 6K race, followed by the women's 5K race at 9:35 a.m. ET.
Men's 6K • 9 AM ET
JD Dainel
Casey Goetschel
Bertold Kalasz
Kristers Kudlis
Alex Lennon
Ryan Olree
Jameson Pifer
Conner Rutherford
Women's 5K • 9:35 AM ET
Madeleine Holland
Lucy Jones
Erin Musty
Anastasia Nilsson
Ceyda Pinar
Addison Scott
Lauren Skeens
Nancy Taylor
Maeve Waddell
Elise Woddell
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' cross country season will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
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