Dave Facinoli - RunWashington

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

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

Metro area includes multiple unique running events during the summer months

By Dave Facinoli

Published July 8, 2026 at 1:00PM

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.

News

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

By Dave Facinoli

Published July 1, 2026 at 9:00AM

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.

News

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

By Dave Facinoli

Published June 24, 2026 at 10:00AM

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.

News

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

By Dave Facinoli

Published June 11, 2026 at 9:00AM

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.