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Cross Country

ODAC Cross Country Report: Week 2

ODAC runners were slated to run in a few events this weekend, but travel changes and weather left just one on the docket with Shenandoah hosting its annual early season SU Twilight Open.

  • SU Twilight Open (Men: 6K | Women: 5K)
    • Meet Results
    • Competing Programs: Batten, Bridgewater, Hollins, Randolph, Roanoke, Shenandoah, Sweet Briar, Washington and Lee
    • ODAC Men's Best: Nathaniel Orban, RC – 1st at 19:29.7 (5:13.7 pace)
    • ODAC Women's Best: Ester Zar, BATN – 2nd at 18:18.1 (5:53.4 pace)


ODAC Top Times Reports

  • ESTER ZAR | BATTEN UNIVERSITY
    Zar, a sophomore from Jonkoping, Sweden, broke the Batten University 5K record during while competing at the SU Twilight Open hosted by Shenandoah University at Kernstown Battlefield, the site of the 2026 ODAC Cross Country Championships. Zar crossed the line in 18:18.1, coming up just 5.6 seconds behind champion Jillian Sisk from VMI. She currently tops the ODAC women's 5K top-times chart by over 90 seconds. Zar eclipsed the previous school-record 5K time of 19:35.9 set by Emma Helsel in 2011 at the Adidas XC Challenge.

    Batten finished second overall out of nine teams with 39 points, just eight markers behind table-topper VMI. The five scoring Marlins finished inside the top-16.

  • NATHANIEL ORBAN | ROANOKE COLLEGE
    Orban, a sophomore from Charlottesville, Va., stopped the watches before all other runners to earn his first victory of the season at the SU Twilight Open hosted by Shenandoah University at Kernstown Battlefield, host of the 2026 ODAC Cross Country Championships. Orban completed the 6K course in 19:29.7, using a 5:13.36 per-mile pace to finish 28 seconds ahead of teammate Parker Blosser.

    Roanoke placed atop the 10-team table with 32 points, 16 clear of second place VMI. The Maroons' five scoring runners placed inside the top-14.

Ester Zar
Nathaniel Orban