For one weekend in September, the Rich Wright Cross Country Course becomes the center of attention in Western Pennsylvania cross country.
The opening weeks of the season give us results, but when many of the WPIAL’s top runners and teams come together at Red, White & Blue, those early results begin to turn into answers.
91 teams. 2,220 athletes. Nine races. Two days.
Red, White & Blue once again brings together one of the largest and deepest fields of the Western Pennsylvania cross country season. More than just another race on the schedule, RWB serves as an early-season measuring stick and one of the first major opportunities to see how many of the area’s top athletes and teams stack up against each other.
The depth of the field makes that measuring stick even more meaningful. Approximately 65% of WPIAL cross country programs will be represented at Red, White & Blue, bringing together contenders from all three classifications and providing an early look at many of the athletes and teams that could factor into the championship picture later this fall.
Four RWB Champions Return in 2026
Four individual champions from the 2025 Red, White & Blue Invitational return in 2026 with an opportunity to defend their titles: Zachary Sharara of Sewickley Academy, Charlotte Barker of Shady Side Academy, Jack Steineman of North Catholic, and Charlie Heese of Greater Latrobe.
Their return adds another layer to an already deep field. Each enters this year’s meet knowing what it takes to win at White Oak Park, but they will also face another talented group of runners looking to make their own early-season statement.
There is also added value in racing at White Oak Park this early in the season. With the WPIAL Championships returning to the same course later this fall, every mile provides valuable experience. Athletes get an opportunity to learn the terrain, understand where they can make their moves, and discover which sections of the course could become critical when championship season arrives.
Just 48 days separate Red, White & Blue from the WPIAL Championships. What happens at White Oak Park in September won’t determine what happens in October, but it can provide an early glimpse of which athletes and teams could be ready to make some noise when they return to the course with a championship on the line.
RWB Doesn’t Tell the Full Story
Winning at Red, White & Blue doesn’t always tell the full story of how the season will finish.
In 2025, Hampton’s Rebekah Hall finished fifth at RWB, while South Fayette’s Angela Zeng placed third. On the boys’ side, Norwin’s Benjamin McBride finished fourth, and Quaker Valley’s Jonah Montagnese placed third.
None of the four won at RWB, but when championship season arrived, all four were standing at the top of the podium as 2025 WPIAL Cross Country Champions.
That’s another reason RWB is such a valuable early-season measuring stick. There is still plenty of racing, training, and improvement between September and the WPIAL Championships. Where an athlete finishes at RWB doesn’t define where they can finish when they return to White Oak Park 48 days later with a WPIAL championship on the line.
RWB Team Matchups to Watch
AAA Girls: Norwin vs. Fox Chapel — Part 2
One of the biggest girls team storylines will be the second early-season meeting between Norwin and Fox Chapel.
Norwin comes into Red, White & Blue after leaving the HOKA Showcase with a team title, while Fox Chapel picked up an early-season championship of its own at the Gateway Invitational. Both programs have already shown their depth, and now they will get another opportunity to line up against each other on one of the most important courses in the WPIAL.
With the WPIAL Championships returning to White Oak Park in 48 days, this should provide another early look at two teams that could be in the AAA championship conversation later this fall.
AA Girls: OLSH Steps Up Against North Catholic
OLSH will make the move up from the Class A race and compete Saturday afternoon against the AA field, adding another strong team to an already interesting race.
OLSH is coming off a victory in the Girls Gold Division at the HOKA Showcase, the second-highest seeded girls race of the night, and will now get a chance to test itself against a larger-school field.
North Catholic brings a different storyline. The Trojans return a strong group of underclassmen and should once again have the depth to make an impact in the team standings.
OLSH moving up gives this race an intriguing matchup between one of Class A’s stronger programs and an established AA contender.
A Girls: A Wide-Open Team Battle
With OLSH moving up to compete in Saturday afternoon’s AA race, Friday’s Class A girls race becomes even more wide open.
Winchester Thurston, Eden Christian Academy, Serra Catholic, Riverview, Fort Cherry, and Chartiers-Houston are six teams to keep an eye on in what could become one of the more competitive team battles of the weekend.
With no clear favorite, the door is open for one of these teams to step up and leave White Oak Park as the Red, White & Blue Class A Girls Team Champion.
AAA Boys: Norwin, North Allegheny & Morgantown
Norwin is still running hot after traveling out of state and winning the Boys HOKA Showcase. With a talented young team, Red, White & Blue will provide another early-season test and an opportunity to see what Norwin can do on the White Oak Park course.
North Allegheny will look to challenge Norwin with a fresh lineup this time around. When it comes to tradition in the WPIAL, North Allegheny always seems to find itself near the top. No matter the meet or competition, North Allegheny is a program you can never count out of the team race.
Also, keep an eye on Morgantown. The West Virginia program has the talent and depth to challenge for one of the top spots and gives the Pennsylvania teams another strong contender to watch when the AAA boys hit the course.
AA Boys: Plenty of Questions to Answer
The AA boys team race might have the biggest unknown factor of the weekend. Right now, the biggest question is simple:Who is the top AA team in the WPIAL? Quaker Valley enters 2026 as the defending WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up, but graduation took away some key pieces from last year’s team. Now we get our first real opportunity to see what this year’s group can do.Did Quaker Valley simply reload in 2026?
North Catholic is another young, up-and-coming team that has to be part of the conversation. We haven’t seen North Catholic’s full varsity lineup at a meet yet, making them one of the more interesting teams to watch at RWB.
Indiana Area brings a solid one-two punch at the front of its lineup, while Knoch enters the meet with two runners under 17 minutes. Both teams have plenty of talent up front, and with strong performances throughout their lineups, they could find themselves right in the middle of the team championship battle.
There are still plenty of questions surrounding the AA boys team landscape, and that’s what makes this race so interesting. By the end of Red, White & Blue, I think we will leave White Oak Park with more answers than questions about which teams are ready to become serious WPIAL contenders this fall.
A Boys: Winchester Thurston Enters as a Favorite
Winchester Thurston returns a solid lineup and should enter the RWB Class A boys race as one of the favorites. After winning the WPIAL Class A team championship last season, Winchester Thurston has the experience and talent returning to once again put itself in the championship conversation.
Neshannock is another team to keep an eye on and should be right in the mix for one of the top spots. This will be a good early-season opportunity to see where Neshannock stacks up against some of the stronger teams in Class A.
And you can never count out Riverview. With runners on the roster who already have experience competing at both the WPIAL and PIAA levels, Riverview knows what it takes to race when the competition gets stronger and the stakes get higher.
Winchester Thurston may enter RWB as an early favorite, but Neshannock and Riverview should make this another Class A team battle worth watching. By the end of Friday night, we should have a much better idea of where the Class A boys team picture stands early in the 2026 season.
Individual Names to Watch
The team races will get plenty of attention, but the individual fields are just as interesting.
On the boys’ side, the submitted entries include Jonah Montagnese, Benjamin McBride, Carter French, Jack Steineman, Charlie Heese, Gatik Hirwani, and Zachary Sharara among the top names. That group includes returning RWB champions, WPIAL champions, and athletes who have already proven they can compete at a high level.
The girls’ entries are just as deep. Angela Zeng, Piper Munyon, Charlotte Barker, Rebekah Hall, Samantha Strelick, Emily Dansak, Jillian Ryba, Camryn Bruno,Claire Loiudice, and Hailey Long are among the many athletes who could make an impact this weekend.
Could We See Kathryn Froelich Make Her XC Debut?
Peters Township’s Kathryn Froelich, the defending PIAA state champion in both the 1600m and 3200m, was entered in the meet as of Wednesday night.
Now, we wait until Saturday morning to see if she lines up for the AAA girls race. If she does, it will mark her first cross country appearance.
Froelich has already proven what she can do on the track, but 5,000 meters at White Oak Park will present a completely different challenge. Knowing her determination and competitive mindset, if she steps to the starting line Saturday morning, we might be in for something special.
Boys — Top 50 Submitted Entry Times
These lists are based on entry times submitted by coaches for the RWB Meet on PennTrackXC. Submitting a time is not required, so athletes without a submitted entry time are not included. Entry times don’t determine how a race will unfold, especially this early in the season, but they give us another reason to expect some competitive individual races at White Oak Park.
- Jonah Montagnese — Quaker Valley
- Benjamin McBride — Norwin
- Carter French — Knoch
- Jack Steineman — North Catholic
- Charlie Heese — Greater Latrobe
- Zachary Sharara — Sewickley Academy
- Gatik Hirwani — North Allegheny
- Wyatt Case — North Allegheny
- Alexander Barrett — Norwin
- Declan Odonnell — Norwin
- Joaquin Summers — Morgantown
- Griffin Martin — South Fayette
- Josh Wukitch — Hampton
- Ashton Saunders — Riverview
- Rory Grande — Erie
- Luca Flitcraft — Hopewell
- Rylan Moore — Wheeling Park
- Devin Junko — Trinity
- Charlie Kapanowski — Pine-Richland
- Troy Payne — Hempfield Area
- Ransom Gaydos — Norwin
- Colin Clarkson — North Allegheny
- Cooper Knorr — Chartiers Valley
- Malachi Phillips — Lakeview
- Reed Takacs — Central Cambria
- Ian Wahl — Seneca Valley
- Maxwell Abildso — Morgantown
- Brody Graham — Blackhawk
- Will Zadecky — Mount Lebanon
- Kaiden Branan — Indiana Area
- Ethan Moldovan — Carlynton
- Connor Kuglar — South Fayette
- Will Kuchera — Taylor Allderdice
- Clem Hall — Hampton
- Harlan Cooper — Shady Side Academy
- Sam Patterson — North Allegheny
- Hunter Petersen — Seneca Valley
- Leonidas Soto — Belle Vernon
- William Little — Norwin
- Ben McCarty — North Hills
- Jack Pfeiffer — North Allegheny
- Timothy Samuel Jr. — Morgantown
- Denny Smith — North Allegheny
- David Kristine — Freeport Area
- Maddox Scaffardi — Greater Latrobe
- Isaac Doerfler — Thomas Jefferson
- Joshua Shrewsberry — Morgantown
- Owen Rankin — Norwin
- Zachary Kashak — Thomas Jefferson
- Ellic Pritts — Connellsville
Girls — Top 50 Submitted Entry Times
These lists are based on entry times submitted by coaches for the RWB Meet on PennTrackXC. Submitting a time is not required, so athletes without a submitted entry time are not included. Entry times don’t determine how a race will unfold, especially this early in the season, but they give us another reason to expect some competitive individual races at White Oak Park.
- Angela Zeng — South Fayette
- Brenna Tipton — Wheeling Park
- Samantha Strelick — North Allegheny
- Piper Munyon — Gateway
- Zoe Zervos — John Marshall
- Emily Dansak — Norwin
- Hailey Long — Mars Area
- Jillian Ryba — Norwin
- Charlotte Barker — Shady Side Academy
- Camryn Bruno — West Allegheny
- Paige Alexander — Central Cambria
- Anna Dansak — Norwin
- Aria Selario — Bridgeport Senior
- Addison Farrah — Norwin
- Rebekah Hall — Hampton
- Tamsin Holliday — Mount Lebanon
- Allison Hawkins — Morgantown
- Sofia Weimer — Hempfield Area
- Paige Damico — Seneca Valley
- Lauren Hawkins — Morgantown
- Delaney Snyder — Central Cambria
- Leyland Phillips — Morgantown
- Anna Morris — North Catholic
- Jules Goshen — OLSH
- Kaelyn Lazar — Norwin
- Gabriela Pizon — North Allegheny
- Lily Ries — North Allegheny
- Megyn Amsler — Morgantown
- Brooklyn Steeber — Belle Vernon
- Natalie Zolinas — Knoch
- Hannah Hayes — OLSH
- Tumaini Yawe — Morgantown
- Ellena Gibbs — South Fayette
- Karina Stoner — Canon-McMillan
- Madison Fellin — Peters Township
- Cheyanne Trout — Baldwin
- Lucy Montagnese — Quaker Valley
- Mira Mosca — OLSH
- Lydia Stuart — North Allegheny
- Ella Davis — Pine-Richland
- Kayla Baker — Indiana Area
- Mycah McCabe — Thomas Jefferson
- Marie Roberts — Kiski Area
- Anna Alexander — Lakeview
- Jenna Conaway — Morgantown
- Kalyn Reese — John Marshall
- Eva Crofford — OLSH
- Raegan Ruckus — Burrell
- Lenna Birchard — Oakland Catholic
- Annie Puhalla — North Catholic
What Do the Entries Say About the Team Races?
Individual entries only tell part of the story. When the submitted times are combined and scored as one meet, they also provide an interesting look at which teams could be positioned for strong weekends at White Oak Park.
These Top 20 projections are based on entry times submitted by coaches for the RWB Meet. All submitted times were combined and scored as one 91-team meet. Teams without submitted entry times, or without enough submitted times to calculate a team score, were not included.
These are projections based on submitted entries, not NixonTFXC team rankings.
Boys Top 20 Projected Teams
- Norwin
- North Allegheny
- Morgantown
- Seneca Valley
- Mount Lebanon
- North Hills
- Central Cambria
- Canon-McMillan
- Hempfield Area
- South Fayette
- Greater Latrobe
- North Catholic
- Pine-Richland
- Shady Side Academy
- Mars Area
- Taylor Allderdice
- Wheeling Park
- Thomas Jefferson
- Trinity
- Pittsburgh Central Catholic
Girls Top 20 Projected Teams
Note: Fox Chapel is listed at No. 2 based on its early-season team performances. The submitted-entry projection does not fully reflect its current lineup.
- Norwin
- Fox Chapel
- Morgantown
- North Allegheny
- Central Cambria
- Our Lady of Sacred Heart (OLSH)
- Seneca Valley
- Kiski Area
- North Catholic
- Hempfield Area
- Taylor Allderdice
- Thomas Jefferson
- North Hills
- Pine-Richland
- Mount Lebanon
- Canon-McMillan
- Peters Township
- Oakland Catholic
- South Fayette
- Shady Side Academy
Race Schedule
Friday
5:00 PM — A Girls
5:45 PM — A Boys
Saturday
8:00 AM — AAA Boys
8:45 AM — AAA Girls
9:30 AM — JV Girls
10:15 AM — Freshman Boys & Girls
11:00 AM — JV Boys
11:45 AM — AA Boys
12:30 PM — AA Girls
RWB Reminder: The meet will follow a rolling schedule.
The Answers Start This Weekend
Red, White & Blue won’t decide any WPIAL championships in September, but by the end of the weekend, we should know a lot more than we know right now.
Which teams are beginning to separate themselves? Which returning contenders are ready to take another step? Which athletes are about to put their names into the WPIAL conversation?
There are still 48 days until the WPIAL Championships, and plenty can change between now and then. But with 91 teams and more than 2,200 athletes coming together at White Oak Park, this weekend should give us our best early-season look yet at where Western Pennsylvania cross country stands in 2026.
The early-season measuring stick is here.
And as the first races of the weekend take place on September 11, we run, compete, and come together while remembering and honoring the lives lost, the heroes who answered the call, and all those forever impacted by 9/11.
We will never forget.
Coach Nixon Red, White & Blue Update
On Friday, I’ll be shooting photography for PennTrackXC. All photos from Friday will be available on PennTrackXC.com.
On Saturday, I’ll only be shooting the AAA races since I’ll be leaving around 10:30 AM. My Saturday photos will be available at nixontfxcnews.pixieset.com for only $5 per photo.
I’ll also be selling shirts Friday and Saturday to help support NixonTFXC.com and the continued coverage of Western PA Track & Field and Cross Country.
Shirts: $10 each or 3 for $25.
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