Dave Facinoli - RunWashington

Multiple college cross-country teams are enjoying early-season success

Published September 15, 2026 at 10:00AM

University of Maryland runners place first, second and third in their opening meet (University of Maryland athletics)

A number of college cross-country teams in the metro area enjoyed success in their opening meets of the fall season.

The University of Maryland women’s squad dominated and won the 11-team University of Delaware Invitational with a low of 22 points. Host Delaware was second with 35.

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Popularity of Arlington Triathlon continues in 12th year of event

By Dave Facinoli

Published September 9, 2026 at 5:00PM

Participants prepare to ride in the bike portion of the Arlington Triathlon (courtesy Arlington Triathlon)

What began with a modest number of participants 13 years ago swelled to more than 150 entries in this summer’s Arlington Triathlon.

The event is for youth participants ages 7 to 15. The triathlon begins with a swim in the Washington-Liberty High School aquatics center, followed by a flat bike ride on a closed loop course and finishes with a run on some streets near the school but mostly on the outdoor W-L track.

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Fall high school cross-country season gets early, and busy, start

By Dave Facinoli

Published September 3, 2026 at 10:00AM

A race starter indicates the high school cross-country season has begun in the metro area (photo by Dave Facinoli)

The fall high school cross-country season got an early and busy start in recent days, with meets held throughout the metro area.

Contests were held from Leesburg to Alexandria from Aug. 26-29.

News

Georgetown women aim to win a seventh straight conference title

By Dave Facinoli

Published August 25, 2026 at 10:00AM

Georgetown University's women's team won a sixth straight conference title last season (courtesy Georgetown athletics)

Having won six straight conference championships, the Georgetown University Hoyas are regarded as the top college women’s cross-country team in the D.C. area, as well as one of the best in the country.

The Hoyas are projected to be ranked nationally among the top 25 in an upcoming Division I preseason NCAA poll.

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Marymount women look to win third straight conference cross-country title

By Dave Facinoli

Published August 18, 2026 at 10:00AM

The Marymount Saints won the past two conference cross-country titles (courtesy Marymount athletics)

As consecutive conference champions, the past two seasons were the most successful in the 16-year history of the Marymount University Saints women’s cross-country team.

Marymount comfortably won back-to-back Atlantic East Conference crowns in 2025 and 2024 by margins of 30 and 21 points, respectively. The league titles were the first in history for the Division III program.

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Colorful footwear now the norm for high-school, college runners

By Dave Facinoli

Published August 14, 2026 at 10:00AM

The shoe colors of high-school cross-country runners vary significantly these days (photo by Dave Facinoli)

It used to be the shoes worn by college and high school cross country and track-and-field runners were mainly either black or white, sometimes blue.

That’s not the case as much anymore.

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Arlington resident honored for running six worldwide marathons

By Dave Facinoli

Published August 7, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated August 9, 2026 at 10:10AM

Bob Mathew holds his medal for competing in the six Abbott World Marathon Majors series (photo courtesy Bob Mathew)

After making a significant life change, Bob Mathew achieved a rare worldwide running milestone.

By finishing the 2025 New York City Marathon, the 61-year-old Arlington native became one of roughly 40,000 people worldwide who have completed the six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

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

By Dave Facinoli

Published July 28, 2026 at 10:00AM

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

Published July 21, 2026 at 12:00PM

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

Published July 15, 2026 at 1:00PM

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.