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.
Track-and-field seasons are wrapping up in coming days across the metro area for the 2025-26 high-school year with outdoor championship meets on district, conference, region and state levels.
Starting this week, girls and boys teams will compete in district and conference events, with region and state championships to follow.
Until some 26 years ago, obtaining official results of high-school cross country and track-and-field meets across the metro area could prove an annoying challenge.
Back then, results were tracked down by phone or fax.
With only a slight prior awareness of each other, a trio of adventurists became fast friends after spending consecutive days together participating in a unique ultra-running event for a cause.
From April 13 to 16, Arlington Sports Hall of Famer and longtime world-renowned ultramarathoner Michael Wardian, along with MedStar Health employees Chris Heydrick and Chris Wilde, ran side-by-side for 47 1/2 hours.