Eager to get the season in motion, the Dodge City cross country teams aim to compete at a high level this season. 

After finishing 21^st at the NJCAA Division I National Championship last year, the Conquistadors women's cross country team returns five runners who competed at nationals. The Conqs' top performer back is Sarai Rodriguez, who posted a 96th-place finish at nationals as a freshman. She is joined by Jennifer Lamas, Karen Vargas Alvarez, and Kristina Bates, who all competed last season for the Conqs, while LeiAnn Maize also returns after competing last season. Three other freshmen fill out the squad for the Conqs this season. 

For the men, they come off a 25th-place finish at the NJCAA DI National Championship and have a trio of runners back who competed at nationals last year. Josue Vega returns as the top runner, placing 76^th at nationals last season, while Eddie Salinas Millan and Jose Chavez Ramirez are each back to help pace the Conqs after competing at nationals. Also returning is Elijah Kisner, and the Conqs round out the roster with the addition of a pair of freshmen. 

For the tenth straight year, the Conqs will open the cross country season competing at the annual Terry Masterson Twilight Classic hosted by Hutchinson CC on Thursday, August 27^th. The Conqs' lone out-of-state meet during the regular season will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Rogers State Distance After Dark on September 3^rd, giving the Conqs back-to-back night races to open the season. The season continues with competition at the Ollie Isom Invite hosted by Butler CC on September 11^th, the Cowley Tiger Ambush on October 2^nd, and the Fort Hays State Tiger Open on October 10^th. The NJCAA Region 6 Championships will be hosted by Butler CC in El Dorado, Kansas, on October 30^th. The NJCAA DI National Championships return to Huntsville, Alabama, where they were in 2023, and will take place on November 14^th.