WINCHESTER, Va. --- Welcome back to the rolling hills and sprawling terrain of Kernstown Battlefield!
For the third time in conference history, the ODAC Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Shenandoah University at its local championship-caliber course at Kernstown Battlefield. The Hornets' previously hosted the event on the challenging track in 2018 and 2022.
Competition is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. ET with the women's six-kilometer race followed by the men's eight-kilometer event at 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. The conference is also planning a robust multi-camera stream via the ODAC's platform with FloCollege.
Last season, Washington and Lee University captured both ODAC trophies with the Generals' women's unit collecting its second straight and ODAC-best 21st championship by 47 points over the University of Lynchburg. The winning margin was tighter in the men's ranks for the Generals with WLU claiming its first league title since winning five straight from 2015-19 (including 2018 at Kernstown) by six points over Lynchburg. That marked the Generals' 15th overall men's trophy, six pieces of hardware shy of Lynchburg's record 21 prizes.
The USTFCCCA (United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) has long been the trusted source for national and regional rankings at all levels of collegiate cross country and track & field. The outfit has expanded on its traditional national and regional team rankings with the XCRI to objectively rank individual runners.
On the women's side of the ledger, no ODAC schools are receiving recognition towards the national top-25 poll, but this writer feels that is a bit more a formality given the results from Washington and Lee. The Generals are second in the South Region listing of 10 teams. Lynchburg slots fifth on that list with Batten University and Shenandoah University positioned eighth and ninth, respectively.
Individually, the Marlins' Ester Zar has had a stellar campaign as she is ranked inside of the USTFCCA's "Tier 1" set of runners at No. 16. Back-to-back ODAC individual champion Olivia Warr was Washington and Lee is also in Tier 1 at No. 28. The pair are rated second and third in the South Region.
In the men's ranks, Washington and Lee is a clear favorite by the rankings with the Generals ranked 11th in the country and No. 1 in the South Region. Lynchburg is just outside the national top-25 at No. 26 and chimes in second in the regional table. Roanoke College has also put together a strong campaign and sits fifth on the regional chart with Shenandoah seated seventh on the 10-team list.
Individually, four ODAC runners are positioned as "Tier 2" competitors by the USTFCCCA. Reigning ODAC champion Sam Daunt from Washington and Lee is ranked 27th with Generals' newcomer (transfer from Johns Hopkins University) Matt Kelly ranked 41st. Reigning ODAC Rookie of the Meet and Rookie of the Year Nathaniel Orban from Roanoke sits 66th, while WLU's Robert Cooper is ranked 69th. The four are rated first, second, fourth, and fifth in the regional, respectively.
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 presale online with an increase to $15 on-site.
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