For the 10th straight season, the Western Carolina men's and women's cross country programs opened their season at home by hosting the Western Carolina Invitational but for the first time in that span the Catamounts were under the direction of first year head coach Cale McDaniel. Both the men's and women's programs each finished second in their respective races with sophomore Liam Brooks picking up the best individual finish as he placed third in the men's 5K race.