Author: Dave Facinoli

Dave Facinoli grew up in Prince George’s County, Md. and attended Friendly High School. After attending Prince’s George Community College and James Madison University, where he covered sports on both college papers, he launched a local newspaper career that included roles as the sports editor of the Alexandria Gazette, the Arlington Sun Gazette and GazetteLeader, and other local papers.

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Area college cross-country teams include runners from D.C. region

By Dave Facinoli
Runners compete for the Marymount University women's team (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

A considerable number of former high-school cross-country runners from throughout the metro area will be competing for multiple local college teams during the upcoming men’s and women’s fall season.

One of those collegiate squads with the most local runners is the Division II Bowie State University program in Maryland. There are a total of eight local runners for the Bulldogs, equally divided between men and women.

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Local high-school runners already prepping for fall’s Monroe Parker Invitational

By Dave Facinoli
Runners and spectators gather at the 2025 Monroe Parker cross-country meet (photo by Dave Facinoli)

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.

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Top high school cross-country teams across region are prepping for fall season

By Dave Facinoli
Brothers Jayse, front, and Landon Brefczynski return for O'Connell (photo by Dave Facinoli)

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.

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Metro area includes multiple unique running events during the summer months

By Dave Facinoli
The Burke Lake Park running course is a scenic journey the parks various paths (photo by Dave Facinoli)

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.

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High-school track standout finds joy, and success, with the javelin

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield High School's Olivia Barr competed at the Penn Relays event (courtesy Barr family)

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.

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‘Relay for America’ to cross Md., Va. on its way to National Mall

By Dave Facinoli
Many individual runners are carrying the American flag as part of the Relay for America event (courtesy Relay for America)

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.

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Robinson girls win outdoor Class 6 Va. track-and-field championship

By Dave Facinoli
The Robinson Rams gather with the Class 6 state outdoor track-and-field championship banner and trophy (courtesy of Robinson athletics)

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.

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Track-and-field athletes from area colleges earn all-conference honors

By Dave Facinoli
Georgetown University steeplechase runner Barrett Justema (courtesy of Georgetown athletics)

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.

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High school track-and-field teams ready for postseason competition

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell and Paul VI runners placed high in relay races (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

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.

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Groundbreaking website made getting meet results much easier

By Dave Facinoli
Girls pole vault results from the recent Ramtastic meet and Robinson Secondary School were posted on Milestat.com (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

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.

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