Top runners came from all around to square off on Saturday, September 26th at Washington, DC’s best local cross country meet.
The 2015 DCXC Invite saw talented high schoolers from all over the DC metro area and well beyond compete on a fast 5k course with a rousing track finish. In total, over 3000 kids participated from 80 schools and teams were welcomed from as far as Kentucky and even Canada. But, with the event taking place in the heart of the city at Kenilworth Park, it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the area’s homegrown talent including both athletes and coaches.
The meet was produced by Pacers Running in partnership with New Balance as part of the DCXC Project— an effort to support the development of distance running in Washington, DC through youth cross country.
Beyond the appeal of its great mission, the DCXC Invite has become a favorite event for participants due to it’s unique format– instead of simply offering Varsity and Junior Varsity races, both male and female runners compete in races against members of their own class (ie: freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors). And, among the many unique attractions at the event were a large retail tent featuring meet-specific gear, an activation tent from New Balance, food trucks, a stage for announcements and a live podcast recording, as well as games and challenges for athletes and spectators to provide entertainment during downtime between races.
The event offered tough competition and all runners produced strong results. The top runners received coveted awards including medals and special edition spikes by New Balance. Of course, each team had a great support crew on hand including coaches, parents, and other fans. And, the cheering sections were loud and spirited for every race.
In the end, the meet was a fantastic success. We are excited to continue to support high school cross country in the DC area and can’t wait for next year’s meet. To stay tuned for updates, follow @dcxcproject on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
And for a closer glimpse of what the event was like view our highlight photos below or click through to our full gallery.
