Pepperdine Teams Compete at Master's Invitational
The Pepperdine cross country squads tested their depth at the event held in Santa Clarita.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Running
Pepperdine cross country teams participated in The Master's Invitational in Santa Clarita on October 3. The women's team secured a third-place finish out of 21 teams, while the men's team placed 9th out of 22 entries.
Why it matters
The competition provided an opportunity for secondary runners to gain experience as the team's top seven competitors were absent from the meet.
Lizzy Crawford finished third out of 189 runners with a time of 21:38.3 in the 6K race. Noah Harris completed the men's 8K event in 25:59.3, placing 44th.
The players
Lizzy Crawford
She is a member of the Pepperdine cross country team who finished in third place during the competition.
Noah Harris
He is a cross country runner for Pepperdine who competed in the men's 8K race at the invitational.
The Master's University
This is a private Christian university located in Santa Clarita that served as the host institution for the cross country event.
Pepperdine University
This is a private research university in Malibu that fields competitive NCAA Division I cross country teams.
The details
Athletes navigated the 8K and 6K courses at Central Park in Santa Clarita during the invitational hosted by The Master's University. The roster relied on non-starting players to fill spots in both the men's and women's divisions.
Timeline
The Master's Invitational took place on October 3, 2026.
The men's 8K race started at 8 a.m.
The women's 6K race started at 8:45 a.m.
Upcoming meets are scheduled for October 17, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This invitational serves as a vital development step, allowing the program to evaluate depth ahead of the upcoming Bronco Invitational. The results help clarify roster readiness as the team prepares for the broader postseason schedule.
The strong finish by Lizzy Crawford highlights individual development within the program's secondary roster. These results provide clear metrics for coaching staff to assess performance trends ahead of the championship season.
The takeaway
Depth is a critical asset for collegiate programs managing long and demanding racing schedules. Maintaining consistent performance through non-starting runners ensures the team remains competitive during absences of primary athletes.
What happens next
The team's top seven runners are scheduled to compete in the Bronco Invitational on October 17, 2026, while the younger group will participate in the Highlander Invitational on the same day.
Further reading
For more on local athletics, visit the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pepperdine Graphic.
