The 2026 season gets underway this weekend with one of the state's largest early-season meets, as The Peaks returns to historic Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Hosted by Flagstaff High School, the meet will bring together more than 60 high school programs and over 1,500 runners -- talk about a big opening weekend! Athletes from across Arizona and beyond will see their first opportunity to test themselves after a long summer of training.
Sitting at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level, Buffalo Park is deep in the DNA of Flagstaff's running culture. The park regularly plays host to some of the world's best distance runners in training, and this weekend Arizona's next generation will take over its trails.
The massive field features programs from nearly every corner of the state, including Flagstaff, Coconino, Chinle, Page, Hopi, Tuba City, Prescott, Boulder Creek, Mountain Ridge, Millennium, Salpointe Catholic and many more.
Van Meerten Begins Final Ride
Yohanes Van Meerten enters his senior season at Flagstaff High School with little left to prove.
The defending Arizona state champion ran a blistering 14:56.20 to earn the state title last fall before taking his season to an entirely different level on the national stage.
Van Meerten went on to finish runner-up at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN), establishing himself as not only one of Arizona's premier distance talents, but one of the best high school distance runners in the nation.
Now, he returns for one final cross country season.
And it begins at home.
Van Meerten will open his 2026 campaign Saturday on the familiar grounds of Buffalo Park, giving Arizona its first look at the defending state champion as he begins what looks to be a special senior season.
The host Eagles will have plenty to watch on the girls side as well.
Flagstaff returns one of Division II's top runners from a season ago, with its standout junior, Kylyn Taylor. Coming off an impressive third-place finish where she helped her team earn Runner-Up at the 2025 AIA Cross Country State Championships as just a sophomore.
Now a year older, she enters the fall as one of the state's notable returning athletes and is hopeful to lead the Flagstaff Eagles this season.
The First Look at 2026
Opening weekend is not about answering every question.
After months of summer mileage, early mornings and workouts without a finish line waiting at the end, Arizona's runners finally get the chance to put on a uniform and race.
The Peaks should provide an early season preview. Returning champions will begin their title defenses. New names will emerge. Teams will get their first look at where they stand.
The road to November officially begins, as the 2026 Arizona cross country season is here.
The 2026 season gets underway this weekend with one of the state's largest early-season meets, as The Peaks returns to historic Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Hosted by Flagstaff High School, the meet will bring together more than 60 high school programs and over 1,500 runners -- talk about a big opening weekend! Athletes from across Arizona and beyond will see their first opportunity to test themselves after a long summer of training.
Sitting at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level, Buffalo Park is deep in the DNA of Flagstaff's running culture. The park regularly plays host to some of the world's best distance runners in training, and this weekend Arizona's next generation will take over its trails.