NEW ORLEANS, La. - Sophomore
Olivia Warr and head coach Mike Dager of the Washington and Lee University women's cross country team were honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the South Region Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
Warr, a Middleburg, Va. native, was named the Athlete of the Year for the South Region following an impressive sophomore campaign. Warr claimed the individual title at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships (ODAC) on Nov. 2, crossing the finish line in 21:35.1. Two weeks later, Warr shined at the South Region Championship as she took home the individual title with a time of 21:34.7. She became the first General since Josephine Schaeffer '96 claimed the region's championship in 1992, 1993, and 1995.
Dager, who is in his 11th year as head coach, was named the South Region Coach of the Year for the second time after leading the Blue and White to their first ODAC and South Region Championship since 2019. Dager's squad is ranked 12th in the USTFCCCA National Poll while picking up wins at the Royals Challenge at Queens University of Charlotte, the Dickinson College Short Invitational as well as the Eagles Cross Country Challenge at Bridgewater College.
Warr and Dager will lead the women's cross country team at the 2024 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind. The race will kick off at Noon (ET) at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
