The following release is published with permission from Josh Eberly and features the 2025 U.S. Collegiate Trail Running Championships.
Moab, Utah — October 2025 — The U.S. Collegiate Trail Running Championships will return to Moab, Utah, on November 8, 2025, marking the third consecutive year the nation’s top collegiate trail runners will converge in the red rock desert for a day of high-caliber competition. The event will once again be hosted in conjunction with the Moab Trail Marathon’s Half Marathon and will also serve as the USATF Half Marathon Trail National Championships.
Collegiate teams and individual athletes from universities nationwide are encouraged to register for this growing championship event.
A Rapidly Growing Collegiate Tradition
First established in 2023, the Collegiate Trail Running Championships were created to provide a national platform for the expanding collegiate trail running community.
The event’s founder, Josh Eberly, head coach of the Western Colorado University (WCU) trail running team, envisioned a race that would bring the excitement and camaraderie of collegiate cross country into the trail running arena. “In NCAA cross country, there’s a deep, established culture,” said Eberly. “Trail running is now experiencing that same momentum, and this championship gives student-athletes an opportunity to compete and connect on a national stage.”
Eberly has led the Western Colorado University trail running program for over a decade and has been a driving force in developing collegiate trail racing across the country. “Over the years, I’ve heard from countless coaches and schools asking how to start their own trail programs,” he added. “Instead of waiting for someone else to create this opportunity, we built it — and it’s been incredible to watch it grow.”
Recognition and Momentum
Since its inception, the event has gained national attention and official certification from the Collegiate Running Association (CRA), further establishing its legitimacy within the collegiate athletics landscape. In addition, a recent NCAA rule change now allows greater flexibility for athletes to participate in non-traditional racing events, opening the door for broader participation in trail running competitions.
“With the USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships being held alongside the collegiate race, we’re expecting the most competitive field yet,” Eberly noted. “Western has proudly claimed the team title for two consecutive years, but we’re eager to see more universities join the lineup and make this a true national championship event.”
Moab: The Perfect Championship Venue
The Moab Trail Marathon, directed by Danelle Ballengee and Darrin Eisman, has long been recognized as one of the premier trail running events in the country. Its rugged terrain, technical course, and scenic desert landscapes create a world-class environment for athletes. “The course offers the full spectrum of trail running — from rocky ascents and technical singletrack to sweeping canyon views,” Eberly said. “It’s the ideal setting for collegiate athletes to test themselves alongside elite professionals while competing for their own team and individual honors.”
Eligibility and Team Scoring
To qualify for the U.S. Collegiate Trail Running Championships, runners must be enrolled in at least one academic credit at a college or university, either as undergraduate or graduate students. The collegiate division will start at 10:00 a.m., in the same wave as the USATF elite competitors.
Team scoring will be based on the combined finish times of the top two men and top two women from each school, and participants are required to compete in their official school uniforms or singlets. The top three men and women will receive custom championship awards.
Weekend Events and Registration
In addition to the collegiate and USATF Half Marathon Trail Championships, the Moab Trail Marathon weekend will feature open races in the marathon, half marathon, and 10K distances, as well as a kids’ fun run.
Collegiate athletes can register under the Collegiate Half Marathon National Championship option on the Moab Trail Marathon website — event if the half marathon general registration is full. For additional information regarding the collegiate championship, contact Josh Eberly at [email protected]
Editor’s Note: Read about the 2024 event here.
