The 2026 Desert Twilight XC Invitational returns to Toka Sticks Golf Course on Friday, Sept. 25, featuring top talent from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and beyond!
With more than 20+ races on the schedule, the evening will build toward the highly anticipated girls and boys Sweepstakes championships. This is the same course that hosts the Nike Cross Regionals Southwest Championships, so Desert Twilight offers an early look at how some of the region's top talents and programs will stack up.
Horton And Van Meerten Set For A Rematch
Now, both are set for a great rematch.
Horton enters the meet fresh off a seamless victory at the Coronado Cougar Classic, where he clocked 15:02.7.
Van Meerten has been in good form himself, recently running 14:42.50 at the 4th Annual NoPo Invite after opening his senior campaign with a victory at The Peaks.
There will be several other contenders as well.
Crew Comish of Red Mountain has already picked up a victory at the Fountain Hills Invitational and is another name to watch heading into Friday. Billy Romero of Taos High School, is off to a great senior season and will surely be in the mix. Colorado will bring plenty of firepower of its own, with Quinn Sullivan and Jude Ritzenhein of Niwot among the notable athletes to keep an eye on.
With an incredibly deep regional field expected, the boys Sweepstakes race could showcase one of the biggest early-season races yet.
A New Girls Champion Will Be Crowned
The girls Sweepstakes race has plenty of history of its own.
Last fall, Addy Ritzenhein captured her third consecutive Desert Twilight individual title before moving on to Northern Arizona University.
Meanwhile, Niwot secured its sixth straight girls Sweepstakes team championship. With Ritzenhein now competing collegiately, the path is open for a new champion to be crowned.
Among the returning names to watch is Gianna Rahmer of Eldorado High School in New Mexico, who finished runner-up a year ago and owns an impressive 16:54.87 cross country 5K personal best.
Scarlett Parks of Niwot is another notable athlete, after finishing 15th in last year's Sweepstakes race. With six consecutive team titles at Desert Twilight, the Cougars will once again be a program to keep an eye on.
Arizona has plenty of talent looking to contend.
Cassidy Long of Mesa Mountain View has opened her sophomore campaign with two victories, including an 18:01.46 personal best at the Western Equinox XC Invite.
Kylyn Taylor of Flagstaff is another name to watch after opening her season with a victory at The Peaks and recently clocking a new 17:49.80 cross country 5K personal best at the 4th Annual NoPo Invite.
With talent arriving from across the region, the girls Sweepstakes race is shaping up to be another exciting showdown under the lights.
Arizona's Stars Meet The Region's Best
Desert Twilight has long been a destination for some of the Southwest's top programs, and this year's race will be no different.
Colorado schools including Niwot, Coronado, Summit, Fort Collins and Heritage are among the notable programs making the trip.
Arizona powerhouse Highland will also be a team to watch closely, with both its boys and girls coming off Division I state championships in 2025.
For Arizona's runners, the meet offers an opportunity to compete against top regional talent on the same course that will play host to the Nike Cross Southwest Regionals in late November.
With the postseason inching closer, Friday's results could offer an early glimpse of what's to come.
The Main Event
The evening builds toward two highly anticipated Sweepstakes races:
9:35 p.m. -- Girls 5K Sweepstakes
9:55 p.m. -- Boys 5K Sweepstakes
From the opening races to the final sprint under the lights, Desert Twilight promises a full evening of exciting competition. The Southwest's best are coming to Toka Sticks and Friday night will deliver plenty of fireworks.
