Terrill and Strouse Triumph at 2024 Collegiate Trail Running National Championships
Collegiate Trail Running National Championships Showcase Outstanding Student-Athletes in Fountainhead Regional Park
Contact: info@collegiaterunning.org
May 19, 2024, Fairfax Station, Virginia– The 2024 Collegiate Trail Running National Championship, hosted by EX2 Adventures and the Collegiate Running Association (CRA), took place at Fountainhead Regional Park with over 400 participants. The sold-out event brought together top collegiate athletes from across the country.
In the women's race, last year’s runner-up Madelyn Bartolone (Ohio University), Brin Strouse (University of Miami), and Abby Wiggins (James Madison University) took an early lead. As the race transitioned from the road to the Fountainhead Trails, it became a contest between Bartolone and Strouse. By the first creek crossing, Bartolone and Strouse had distanced themselves from Wiggins. Strouse eventually pulled ahead during the climbs, finishing with a time of 56:19, breaking the previous course record of 57:15 set by Imogen Cross in 2023.
Defending men's champion Stuart Terrill (University of Richmond), fresh from his 10,000m win at the IC4A Outdoor Track & Field Championships, led a competitive field. Key contenders included Terrill, his Richmond teammates Jordan Bendura and Zachary Stevens, George Mason's Wesley Bond, and Purdue's Miles Clikeman.
Early in the 10.9-kilometer race, Terrill, Bond and Bendura pulled ahead, navigating the challenging single-track trail. By the 3-mile mark, they had a significant lead over the field. Terrill's expertise on the narrow, hilly terrain became evident as he distanced himself from Bond and Bendura by the 5-mile point, maintaining a course record pace.
Terrill finished the race in a record-breaking time of 44:55, smashing the previous record of 51:34 set in 2020, and secured the title of 2024 Collegiate Trail Running National Champion. Bond closed strong to secure the runner-up spot, running an impressive 45:52. Bendura finished third with a time of 47:26, and Stevens came in fourth at 50:30, with the top four all surpassing the previous course record.
Top finishers received cash prizes, with first place earning $750, second place $500, and third place $250. The top five collegiate runners also received JAMBAR, the official energy bar of the association.
Fountainhead Regional Park provided a scenic yet challenging course, featuring single-track trails, wildflowers, and stunning views, just 30 minutes from Washington D.C.
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