LEXINGTON, Va. – The Washington and Lee University women's cross country team will look to capture its third consecutive conference title and 22nd overall when the Generals travel to Winchester, Va., for the 2026 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31. Shenandoah University will host the championship at Kernstown Battlefield, with the women's 6k race scheduled for 10 a.m.
Washington and Lee enters the postseason ranked second in the South Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Generals will face three other regionally ranked conference programs, including No. 5 Lynchburg, No. 8 Batten and No. 9 Shenandoah.
COACH'S QUOTE
The coaches at Shenandoah always put on a great meet and create a true championship atmosphere. Conditions look ideal for racing, and we're excited to test ourselves against the rest of the conference as the postseason begins. We're looking forward to a competitive weekend and the opportunity to bring another ODAC title home to Lexington.
- Head Coach Mike Dager
WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Washington and Lee enters Saturday's championship seeking its third consecutive ODAC title after continuing its run of success with a retooled lineup. The Generals captured last year's championship with just 21 points, placing five runners among the top seven and seven inside the top nine to secure their 21st conference crown. W&L finished 47 points ahead of runner-up Lynchburg (68) and 68 points clear of third-place Shenandoah (89).
The Generals return six All-ODAC performers from last year's championship squad, including five who finished among the top 10.
Olivia Warr headlines the returning group after capturing her second consecutive individual title with a Bridgewater course-record time of 21:39.8.
Maddy Morgan placed fifth (22:48.8), followed by
Josie Engle in eighth (23:05.7),
Adelaide Ellis in ninth (23:17.9) and
Amelia Weenig in 10th.
Audrey Robinson added a 20th-place finish to round out the returning all-conference honorees.
Warr will look to become a three-time ODAC individual champion after continuing her strong form throughout the 2026 campaign. She owns the second-fastest 6k time in the conference this season at 21:09.9, recorded at the Connecticut College Invitational on Oct. 17. Ellis has also emerged as a leading contributor, posting a season-best 22:00.1 at Connecticut College, the fourth-fastest mark among ODAC competitors.
Washington and Lee's depth is reflected throughout the conference's season-best performances, with four Generals ranked among the top 10 and eight inside the top 16. Robinson, who captured the individual title at the Hornet Harrier Invitational, ranks eighth at 22:51.7, while
Laura Sallade sits ninth at 22:58.9. Weenig (23:10.3), Morgan (23:15.3),
Emma Watson (23:17.1) and Engle (23:27.8) also hold marks among the conference's top 16, providing W&L with several options throughout its scoring lineup.
The Generals have demonstrated their depth against competitive fields throughout the fall, opening the season with a runner-up finish at the Virginia Tech Invitational before placing third at the Hokie Invitational. W&L also earned a fifth-place finish at the Royals Cross Country Challenge and split its squad between the Roanoke South Region Showdown and Connecticut College Invitational on Oct. 17.
Saturday's championship will mark a return to familiar territory for Washington and Lee, which captured the Hornet Harrier Invitational title at Kernstown Battlefield on Sept. 19. Younger members of the Generals, who had not raced the battlefield before, totaled 23 points to secure the team victory, while Robinson claimed the individual crown. The early-season performance provided W&L with valuable experience on the championship course ahead of its return to Winchester.
Washington and Lee enters the championship as the ODAC's highest-ranked women's program in the South Region, sitting second in the latest USTFCCCA rankings. The Generals will face three additional regionally ranked conference opponents, including No. 5 Lynchburg, No. 8 Batten and No. 9 Shenandoah. Batten boasts three of the conference's five fastest 6k performances this season, led by Ester Zar's conference-leading 20:23.5. Teammates Madison Coutinho (21:58.0) and Ella Moskowitz (22:05.3) also rank among the league's top five, while Shenandoah's Madison Chorney (22:29.6) and Lynchburg's Adelynn Carpenter (22:41.5) are among the individual contenders. The Generals will look to maintain their regional standing ahead of the NCAA South Region Championships on Nov. 14 at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va.
2026 SEASON RESULTS
- Virginia Tech Invitational – 2nd (58 points)
- Hokie Invitational – 3rd (84 points)
- Hornet Harrier Invitational / ODAC Championship Preview – 1st (23 points)
- Richmond Invitational – 9th (269 points)
- Royals Cross Country Challenge (Blue Race) – 5th (126 points)
- Roanoke South Region Showdown – 5th (106 points)
- Connecticut College Invitational – 15th (404 points)
AWARDS
Following the championship races, the ODAC will recognize the team champions, individual winners and All-ODAC performers. The top seven individual finishers earn First Team All-ODAC honors, places 8-14 receive Second Team recognition and finishers 15-21 are named Third Team All-ODAC.
The conference will also recognize its individual Runner of the Meet and Rookie of the Meet, along with the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
LIVE COVERAGE AND RESULTS
Fans can follow Saturday's championship through a live broadcast on FloCollege, while Blue Ridge Timing will provide live results and individual standings throughout the competition.
CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
Location: Kernstown Battlefield | Winchester, Va.
Host: Shenandoah University & Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Women's 6k: 10 a.m.
Championship Resources:
UP NEXT
The Generals will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the NCAA Division III South Region Championships, hosted by the University of Lynchburg at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va. Competition is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
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.
