DCXC - RunWashington

B-CC teams win Montgomery County meet

Published October 19, 2013 at 7:53PM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:47PM

Nora McUmber‘s dominant performance wasn’t the story Saturday at the Montgomery County Cross Country Championships. With a 46-second lead, an observer who didn’t come to expect that performance from the race’s defending champion might think she was lost, warming up, or trailing an earlier race that had long since finished. Though she contributed a single point to the team’s total with her victory, the clump of teammates a few places back put the Barons on top.

“She’s gaining a lot of confidence with these races,” said coach Chad Young. “She respects her competition and knows a lot of girls can be competitive with her in the right race, but she’s getting an idea what she can do.”

Georgetown Prep adapts to rainy week

By Charlie Ban

Published October 14, 2013 at 10:05AM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:47PM

A Georgetown Prep freshman leads the way on the redesigned course during the Georgetown Prep Invitational. Photo: Charlie Ban

It was an exercise in resilience.

After three days of rain, things weren’t so much up in the air for the local cross country scene as they were under water. The Glory Days Invitational was called off, Bull Run Regional Park was flooded. The golf course at Georgetown Prep was too soft and slippery, but coach Greg Dunston was adamant about holding the meet. Teams were coming from Delaware and Chicago to race.

Georgetown Prep Athlete Interviews

By Kathy Dalby

Published October 12, 2013 at 5:32PM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:52PM

Pacers New Balance Cross Country Tour Podcasts from the Georgetown Prep Invitational on Oct 12, 2013

Segment #1 Race Introduction with podcast hosts Chris Farley of Pacers Running Stores & Johnny Cakes Auville from the Sports Junkies

Forever Young: XC Doesn’t End at Graduation

By Jamie Corey

Published September 23, 2013 at 11:43AM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:52PM

More than 100 runners’ feet hitting the ground on an open field toward wooded trails. Trudging up a hill, giving every last bit of effort with legs and shoes covered in mud. A strong storm just minutes away from plummeting the course; nobody paying it any mind. Team spirit filling the air as competitors burst into the finish chute and turn back around to cheer for their friends.

It may seem like a typical high school cross country race, but the racers were fathers and mothers with jobs and mortgages. They were finishing the Montgomery County Road Runners Club’s Running with the June Bugs, not a dual meet against a rival school.

Don’t forget to have fun!

By Dickson Mercer

Published September 23, 2013 at 10:45AM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:52PM

The Oakton girls team members pump each other up for the 2012 Concorde District meet. Photo: Ed Lull

In the 1980s – before Internet forums – Langley High School’s Erin Keogh was the fastest high school distance runner in the country.

Now Erin Breitenbach, she recently did a Google search of her maiden name and said she found these “ridiculous things on some blog.”

Choose your harrier

By Charlie Ban

Published September 9, 2013 at 10:00AM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:44PM

Poolesville's Chase Weaverling looks to be one of the top cross country runners in Mongtomery County, and perhaps the state of Maryland. Photo: submitted

RunWashington convened a meeting of eight coaches to figure out who is poised for a big cross country season. The participating coaches represented a cross section of schools in the area and, by consensus, they selected the top 10 runners in the Washington, D.C. area, the ones we’d send to a battle royale-style race against other metropolitan areas. The best of the best around here.

They also selected top sevens remaining in each state- Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. These coaches also provided insight into what makes running in the D.C. area so special.

Defending Va. state champs kick off season on top

By Charlie Ban

Published September 9, 2013 at 9:56AM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:43PM

Despite losing two national-class runners to graduation, the Chantilly boys and Lake Braddock girls started their state title defense with victories at the Monroe Parker Invitational Saturday in which was, for the most part, an early preview of the Northern Region meet.

Louis Colson staked his claim to the northern region, and perhaps the state, which has been vacated by three seniors who finished ahead of him last year. Before today, Colson, a Thomas Edison senior, had never broken 15:00 for the 2.98 mile course at Burke Lake. On his first race back, he won in 14:43 after breaking away from George C. Marshall’s junior Mackenzie Haight after two miles (9:48).

GWU adds track and field for 2014-2015 school year

By Charlie Ban

Published September 9, 2013 at 9:53AM | Updated April 11, 2018 at 3:43PM

These Colonials will have track season to look forward to next year. Photo: Charlie Ban

In hopes of boosting the existing cross country teams’ fortunes, George Washington University will add track and field teams in the 2014-2015 school year. The school will also add diving teams to the existing swimming teams.

After discussing the options with Athletic Director Patrick Nero last spring, Colonials cross country coach Terry Weir said things moved quickly over the summer to set up a return of the indoor and outdoor teams for men and women.

Postal meet unites Annandale coach, high school mentor

By David Pittman

Published August 15, 2013 at 8:00AM | Updated April 16, 2020 at 11:38AM

Then-Annandale coaches Dave O'Hara and Carl Klein celebrate after a coaching staff race. Photo: Courtesy of Carl Klein

It doesn’t take much prying to get Dave O’Hara talking fondly about his old high school track and cross country coach.

His experience nearly 20 years ago at Mt. Lebanon High School in suburban Pittsburgh laid the foundation for his running and coaching career. His coach, Mike Agostinella, has served as his role model.

To run or not to run?

By Jacqueline Feldscher

Published August 12, 2013 at 2:09PM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:52PM

While she was worried about increased weekly mileage, fitting into a new team, and balancing running with schoolwork her first time away from home, Maddie Wittich‘s decision to run in college was ultimately easy.

“I can tell from the way I feel during my runs that I have so much left in me and I feel like I need to keep going,” said Wittich, who is entering her freshman year at the University of Richmond. “I still want to improve so much and get new PRs and I know that college will offer that to me.”