The date remains in flux, but local athletes already are gearing up for the Monroe Parker Invitational, one of the oldest high-school cross-country meets across the metro area.
Originally named the Northern Region Athletic Director’s meet, the event began in 1974 with the opening of Burke Lake Park and continues to be held there on the 2.98-mile course. It was renamed the Monroe Parker Invitational in 1994.
Just because it’s the summer and school isn’t in session doesn’t mean the defending Virginia state cross-country team champion Bishop O’Connell Knights have remained idle in regard to defending their high-school titles this upcoming fall season.
The official schedules begin in late August or early September at various meets for all metro-area high-school teams. Many of those teams, including O’Connell, already are preparing by at least holding informal volunteer practices a couple of times a week or so.
The Washington region offers a wide variety of running road races throughout the summer.
While traditional 5K, 10K and marathon events take place, other events are modified in unique ways, and attract significant interest as a result.
Olivia Barr is something of a fish out of water a bit when it comes to high school track-and-field.
The rising senior at Arlington’s Wakefield High School is a standout in multiple girls sports, especially track. Yet, maybe her best individual field event — the javelin — isn’t offered in high-school track-and-field in Virginia.
A 3,000-mile event that includes the same single American flag carried across the nation by many different runners will conclude July 4 in the nation’s capital as part of the country’s 250th birthday celebration.
The Relay for America relay began at Rodeo Beach near San Francisco June 14. The 20-day trek continues east around the clock across the U.S. through at least 15 states before finishing on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Led by some strong running performances, the Robinson Rams capped a standout girls high-school track-and-field 2026 campaign by winning a second state championship.
The Rams ended the spring season by capturing the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state title in Newport News. Robinson’s team point total was 56.5, just a half point more than runner-up North Stafford.
Athletes from local metro-area college outdoor track-and-field teams recently were singled out for their spring performances by earning 2026 all-conference honors.
Some of those athletes also are participating in various NCAA championship meets at different levels of competitions.