Bruns Defends Title at 2026 Collegiate Trail Running National Championship; Joyce Breaks Course Record in Women’s Race at Fountainhead Regional Park

University of Richmond teammates Carter Bruns and Paige Joyce Capture Titles at 2026 Collegiate Trail Running National Championships as students compete in Fairfax, Virginia in the Collegiate Running Association Championships. Joyce set a course record by 33 seconds.

Hosted in partnership with EX2 Adventures, the championship delivered a premier trail racing experience for college athletes.

Contact: info@collegiaterunning.org

Fairfax County, VA — May 3, 2026 — The Collegiate Running Association (CRA), in collaboration with EX2 Adventures, hosted the 2026 Collegiate Trail Running National Championship on Sunday at Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. The championship was held alongside the annual Fountainhead 10K Trail Race, bringing together collegiate and open competitors on one of the region’s most challenging and scenic trail courses.

Now in its sixth year, the Collegiate Trail Running National Championship continues to grow as a premier opportunity for student-athletes nationwide to compete at a national level in the rapidly expanding discipline of trail running—an event category not currently governed by the NCAA. Collegiate runners raced within the larger 10K++ (~7.1 miles) field, with separate scoring used to determine national championship results and All-America honors.

Men’s Championship Race

Defending champion Carter Bruns of the University of Richmond successfully retained his title, delivering a standout performance and running the second-fastest time in course history. Bruns crossed the line in 45:26, improving on his 2025 winning mark of 45:53 by 27 seconds. With the result, he now holds both the #2 and #4 all-time performances on the Fountainhead course. He remains undefeated in trail running races.

University of Richmond teammate Zachary Stevens secured second place in 45:45, earning the #3 all-time performance and dramatically improving from his 5th-place finish in 2025, when he ran 53:01.

Matthew Peart of the University of Virginia claimed third in 46:30, followed by Patrick Doherty (University of Richmond) in fourth at 47:26. Bennett Wright, also of the University of Richmond, rounded out the top five in 48:57 as the Spiders swept four of the top 5 places.

James Johnson (George Washington University) placed sixth running 51:16.

Women’s Championship Race

The women’s competition featured a highly anticipated duel between University of Richmond teammates Paige Joyce and Mollie Fenn. Joyce, last year’s runner-up, and Fenn ran together at record pace through much of the race before Joyce surged late to secure victory.

Joyce captured the national title in a new course record time of 57:31, lowering the previous mark by 33 seconds. Fenn finished a strong second in 58:36, earning the #4 all-time performance on the course.

Prizes and Honors

The top three collegiate finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions shared a $3,000 prize purse, awarded as follows: $750 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. In addition, the top five collegiate finishers in each division earned CRA All-America honors.

Event Highlights and Sponsorship

Brooks Running joined the Collegiate Running Association as a new event sponsor this year, supporting the championship with on-site activation, product sampling, and awarding winners with new Brooks footwear.

The course once again showcased the rugged natural terrain of Fountainhead Regional Park, located approximately 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. Runners navigated sections of the Bull Run–Occoquan Trail and surrounding technical climbs, testing endurance while offering scenic views throughout the 10K route.

A half marathon was also held as part of the broader Fountainhead Trail Race event, open to the public. However, only the 10K distance served as the official collegiate national championship race.

“We’re excited to continue building on the success of previous championships in partnership with EX2 Adventures,” said Steve Taylor, Co-Founder of the Collegiate Running Association. “Fountainhead Regional Park provides an outstanding setting for this event, offering accessibility and a challenging course that highlights the appeal of trail running for collegiate athletes nationwide.”

EX2 Adventures was widely praised for delivering an exceptional event experience, continuing its role as a key partner in developing high-quality trail racing opportunities in the region.

For additional information, visit the Collegiate Running Association and EX2 Adventures official websites.