Catholic University Continues 2026 Success at the South Region Preview at Panorama Farms
Catholic University cross country had a meet on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the South Region at Panorama Farms. The meet was hosted by the University of Lynchburg. Although it was warm, 82 degrees Fahrenheit (which is not ideal for running), the Cardinal men and women ran well. The men ran at 10 am, with an 8-kilometer race, and the women ran at 11 am, with a 6-kilometer race.
The meet was large, with 20 men’s teams and 22 women’s teams participating. Panorama Farms, the host site of the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, has more than nine miles of rolling grass fields. The fact that the course has a championship pedigree means it is good; it was just hot. Do you think running in the morning will mitigate the heat?
Catholic University at the South Region at Panorama Farms
Catholic University ran in the South Region, hosted by the University of Lynchburg at Panorama Farms. The University of Lynchburg has a very strong cross-country team. To start the season, the University of Lynchburg ran at the Virginia Tech Invitational.
A Great Result for the Catholic University Men
The men placed fifth out of sixteen teams and were led by senior Joey Locke, who finished in eighteenth place. The second Catholic University finisher was freshman Aidan Molloy. Junior Patrick Morris was 47th, and right behind him was Sophomore Matt Haugh placed 48th. Freshman Quinn Langan was the fifth finisher for the Cardinal squad, placing 58th overall.
When you sum up the places, Catholic University totaled 174 points with their 5th-place team finish. Lynchburg came in first with 28, Pfeiffer tallied 92, while Roanoke and Berry tied with 108. Lynchburg was led by the top overall finisher.
Ty Blair of Lynchburg Wins Men’s Race
Loudoun Valley High School alumnus Ty Blair paced the men’s race. He went to the same high school, at the same time, as Catholic University Sophomore Tim Sweeney. They went to the 2024 Virginia State Track and Field Championships together, with Blair clocking a record 8:58 in the 3,200-meter race.
The Catholic University Women Also Did Well
The Cardinal women did even better than the men, by one spot. The women finished fourth overall and were led by some familiar names (and some newcomers). Sophomore Olivia Sobkowicz’s and Freshman Saffron Blume’s top ten times led the Cardinals. Sobkowicz finished ninth, and Blume finished tenth.
Junior Alexa Grassi was 24th overall. The top five finishers for the Cardinal women were rounded out by Bridgid Cavanaugh, who was 40th, with a time of 25:58.4. Freshman Gianna Frey placed 47th. When you sum up those placements, you get 127 points, which was good for fourth place in the meet. The total was behind St. Francis, who won with 79 points. Southern Virginia had 103 points, and host Lychburg had 104 points. The Catholic women were next. The women’s race was noteworthy because the top nine finishers were all from different schools.
Conclusion
This was a meet with great results for Catholic University. The Cardinals set themselves up to be successful for the rest of the season. It would be good if the weather cooled off soon and provided some better running conditions. Head Coach of Cross Country and Track and Field said, “The team ran really well. I am pleased with the start and foundation and excited for what is to come. The men stepped up big today. Our best is yet to come.” That is certainly true. It is funny that this meet was called the South Region Preview. The South Regionals are in Charlottesville on November 14.
