Gans Creek is the home of the Mizzou men's and women's cross country teams and will serve as the site for the 2026 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championship.
The Gans Creek Cross Country Course opened on September 27, 2019, with the Gans Creek Classic, and this year marks the eighth year of the event. The 320-acre park is a state-of-the-art facility that has attracted state, regional and national meets to the mid-Missouri area, including the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, the 2021 SEC Championships, the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Midwest Regional Championships, the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship and the upcoming 2026 SEC Cross Country Championship.
The course features a permanent start/finish line adjacent to a medical support and athlete recovery tent. The spectator-friendly facility includes a spectator berm that rises 12-15 feet above the final 500 meters, while a two-rail estate fence marks the permanent course edge and controls crossing points along the many wide turns.
Click here for more information on the facility.
2026 SEC Cross Country Championship Central
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Mizzou hosts the 2026 SEC Cross Country Championships on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo., for the second time in history. The championship will be televised live on SEC Network, with the women's 6,000m race at 10:08 a.m. CT and the men's 8,000m race at 10:45 a.m. CT.
Quick Facts
Date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Site: Gans Creek Cross Country Course (Gans Creek Recreation Area) – 3350 East Gans Rd., Columbia, MO 65201
Host: University of Missouri
Races: Women's 6,000m (10:08 a.m. CT) · Men's 8,000m (10:45 a.m. CT)
Television: SEC Network (approx. 10:00–11:30 a.m. CT)
Live Results: PrimeTime Timing (pttiming.com)
Championship Day Schedule
| Time (CT) | Event |
| 7:30 a.m. | Championship Course Opens |
| 9:40 a.m. | National Anthem |
| 10:00 a.m. | SEC Network Coverage Begins |
| 10:08 a.m. | Women's 6,000m Championship Race |
| 10:45 a.m. | Men's 8,000m Championship Race |
| 11:24 a.m. | Women's Trophy Presentation |
| 11:28 a.m. | Men's Trophy Presentation |
| 11:30 a.m. | SEC Network Coverage Ends |
| 11:35 a.m. | Individual Awards Presentation |
All times Central and subject to change.
Admission & Parking
Admission: $5 for all ages. Mizzou students admitted free with a valid student ID.
Parking: $10. Spectator parking is located across the street on Perry Phillips Road, with alternative parking available at the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse (4251 Philips Farm Rd.).
Tickets: Available via the Ticketmaster.
Directions
The course is located inside the Gans Creek Recreation Area on the south side of Columbia. The facility address is 3350 East Gans Rd., Columbia, MO 65201. Click here to access directions on Google Maps.
- Gans Creek Cross Country Course – 3350 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201
Team vehicles and charter buses are required to enter the cross country course from the west side, coming down East Gans Rd from either Bearfield Rd or Rock Quarry Rd. When leaving the venue, vehicles will be instructed to turn left, heading west on E Gans Rd toward the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse. Bearfield Rd and Rock Quarry Rd are accessed from Grindstone Parkway. - Columbia Sports Fieldhouse – 4251 Philips Farm Rd, Columbia, MO 65201
From the North (U.S. 63): Traveling south on U.S. 63 from Moberly, exit onto Discovery Parkway and turn right at the stoplight. Take the first right onto Ponderosa St., continue straight, take the first exit at the first roundabout, then take the second exit at the second roundabout onto Philips Farm Rd. Follow it until you reach 4251, where the Fieldhouse is located on the right-hand side. - From the South (U.S. 63): Traveling north on U.S. 63 from Jefferson City, exit onto Discovery Parkway and turn left at the stoplight. Take the first right onto Ponderosa St., continue straight, take the first exit at the first roundabout, then take the second exit at the second roundabout onto Philips Farm Rd. Follow it until you reach 4251, where the Fieldhouse is located on the right-hand side.
- From the West & East (I-70): At the I-70/U.S. 63 interchange, take the exit toward US-63 South. Stay on US-63 South until you reach the Discovery Parkway exit and turn right at the stoplight. Take the first right onto Ponderosa St., continue straight, take the first exit at the first roundabout, then take the second exit at the second roundabout onto Philips Farm Rd. Follow it until you reach the Fieldhouse, located on the right-hand side.
Parking
Spectators: Parking is $10 per vehicle. Spectator parking is located across the street on Perry Phillips Road, with alternative parking available at the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse (4251 Philips Farm Rd.).
Teams: Team buses and vans will drop off at the course and park at the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse. Each team will receive two reserved administrative parking spaces at the Gans Creek course; parking passes are included in the team packet.