SALEM, Va. --- ODAC cross country runners return to Salem, Virginia, and Green Hill Park for a second straight season for the beginning of postseason competition with the 2024 ODAC Cross Country Championships.

Weather impacted last season's event with unseasonably warm temperatures that actually forced meet administrators to move up the first race in an effort to provide the athletes with as ideal a running environment as possible. This year, league harriers will benefit from both a better weather prognosis and an earlier timeline. The women's six kilometer championship is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. ET, with the opening gun of the men's eight kilometer event set for 11:00 a.m. ET.

Timing will be provided by Blue Ridge Timing and posted to the results site at several intervals throughout the race as well as at the conclusion of each competition. Streaming for the event is provided by the ODAC on the ODAC Sports Network at odacsn.com.

Come noon on Saturday, we will know if there will be variety in the ODAC champions for the first time in a decade, or if one school will again hoist both conference trophies. The 2012 championships marked the last time two different schools won the men's and women's titles. Bridgewater College claimed both in 2013 and 2014, while Washington and Lee University stood atop the podium of both events from 2015 through 2019. It has now been three straight seasons with University of Lynchburg programs atop the team standings, but could there be a change in the guard coming this weekend?

Lynchburg and Washington and Lee are back-to-back in the latest Division III men's rankings produced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), slotting 11th and 12th on the national lists and first and second in the South Region rankings, respectively. Roanoke is the only other ODAC squad listed in the regional rankings, taking up eighth position.

Washington and Lee owns the moniker of ODAC's best entering the women's race. The Generals made the single largest jump in the USTFCCCA national rankings, leaping from 30th to 12th in the latest poll following outstanding late season results. Lynchburg, ranking 25th in the country, still has its eyes set on a conference crown given its returning talent. The Generals and Hornets are second and third in the region, respectively, behind Emory University. Shenandoah University and Bridgewater will push atop the ODAC standings as they enter the weekend ranked fourth and sixth in the region.

Individually, 18 All-ODAC runners -- nine men and nine women -- are primed for runs at top-14 showings to repeat on the awards lists, including 2023 women's champion Kayla Werner from Lynchburg. She enters with the best 6K time (21:03.10) in the ODAC this season. Teammates Allison Dell (2nd), and Kristen Werner (10th) were All-ODAC last year, while first-year Adelynn Carpenter has her eyes on an awards list. Bridgewater's Mackenzie Young (3rd) and Emily Smeds (7th) are joined by first-year Taylor Myers (21:53.30 6K-best this year) in forming a strong trio. Washington and Lee's Sophia Breschi (9th), Claire Hamlet (12th) and Reese Brown (14th) are joined by second-year standout Olivia Warr -- who owns the ODAC's second-fastest 6K time (21:09.70) this year -- Emma Mitchell (22:06.30), Mimi Kemp (22:37.00), and transfer Cassie Carr (22:01.70) in forming a potent corps. Shenandoah's Madeline Lotts (13th) leads a strong group that also includes Makenna Thrash (22:50.50) and Madison Chorney (23:16.20).

In the men's ranks, Lynchburg's Chasen Hunt (3rd in 2023) is the hottest runner in the region with the best 8K time (24:06.00) in the ODAC by more than 30 seconds and several top showings including a win at the Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh University. He's joined by four All-ODAC returners -- Sam Llaneza (2nd), Cooper Hurst (5th), Tor Hotung-Davidsen (12th), Jonas Rush (14th) -- as well as Randy White (24:47.30 8K-best this year) and Dylan McGraw (24:52.00). All-ODAC returners Row Sterne (4th), Jackson Kodenski (10th), and Thomas Franklin (13th) lead Washington and Lee along with 2024 standouts Robert Cooper (24:37.80), Keaton Rush (24:42.50), and William Dunaway (24:53.30).

EMU's Bellamy Immanuel (7th) is the remaining All-ODAC returner with his eyes set on a second straight first team spot. Randolph College's Tanner Cochran (24:58.80) looks to continue a strong campaign.

Those looking to attend the ODAC Cross Country Championships should go to the ODAC's exclusive ticketing partner Hometown Ticketing to get your entry pass to the championships. Admission is $10 per car.

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