The local elementary school’s cross country team gets ready for the championship

By Charles Cleveland

11/20/24

In the intense world of Washington D.C elementary school cross country, only the strongest 4th and 5th graders survive. To a 10 year old, the two miles that make up a regulation size elementary school cross country course can be one of the most grueling experiences they have ever gone through. Dozens of DCPS schools and hundreds of DC children compete for individual and team glory in one of the oldest sports known to man. In late October every year, the top seven runners from every participating school gather and compete for the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association elementary school cross country championship. This year, the race was held at Colmar Manor Community Park, just outside of North East DC. Bernard T. Janney Elementary School boys stand out among the rest, having won the past 2 years in a row, and were the favorite to win this year. 

Jack, a 5th grader at Janney and one of the top runners on the team, has been running cross country for the past 2 years. “Yeah, it’s fun. I play soccer on Saturdays and this helps me get faster for that.” Jack remarked. Many cross country runners at this age started running because they played other sports outside of school, and wanted more sports to do during the week. “I get tired after practice on Fridays, and sometimes my feet hurt, but after the season I can run for longer than other people on my soccer team.” But even with outside of school sports, cross country is still very important for the runners

“I really want to win,” said 4th grader Giovanni. Despite it being Giovanni’s first year on the team, he has become Janney’s fastest runner, with a two mile time of 14 minutes and 16 seconds. “The best part about the meets is when you finish, so finishing before everyone is really fun.” Out of the 116 4th and 5th graders that ran at the DCIAA championship meet, Giovanni got seventh place, and was the first Janney runner to finish. 

But the team would be nothing without its coaching staff of volunteer parents and local high schoolers.

“The team is good for these boys because they have a time to burn off energy before they go home. I just wish they had a track team so they could do it for longer” said volunteer coach Arjan, who is a junior at Jackson-Reed high school. Arjan, now one of the top distance runners in the District of Columbia, ran for Janney before covid when he was in elementary school, and  comes back year after year to help coach the team he was once a part of. “It’s good community service, I live nearby, and we (Jackson-Reed) don’t practice on Fridays, so it’s a nice way to get a recovery run in.” 

Cross country serves to bring together hundreds of young athletes from across the district to compete in one of the oldest and purest sports, and the championship is a capstone for the season. Held at Colmar Manor Community Park, this year’s championship highlighted not only individual achievements but also the strength of team dynamics. While Giovanni finished seventh overall, his performance helped push Janney toward a second place finish, cementing their reputation as a cross country powerhouse in the district.

For these young athletes, cross country is more than just a sport. It’s a chance to build confidence, develop resilience, and learn the value of hard work and teamwork. The friendships formed during practices and meets, whether with teammates or volunteer coaches, often until college, which for them can feel like a lifetime. As these runners lace up their shoes and take to the trails, they’re not just running. They’re growing as athletes, individuals, and as a team. For Jack, Giovanni, and the rest of the Janney team, the lessons learned on the course will stay with them long after the season ends, fueling their ambitions and shaping their future paths.