The 2026 Great American XC Festival lived up to its reputation as one of the premier high school cross country competitions in the country, with two thrilling COROS Race of Champions highlighting Saturday’s action at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
The girls race produced an impressive repeat champion. Averi Lowen of Bowdon, Georgia, successfully defended her title after holding off a strong late challenge from Ragsdale’s Elle Dawson. Lowen established an early lead, reaching the mile in 4:55, before maintaining enough separation to secure the victory in 16:33.8.
On the boys’ side, Belen Jesuit senior Marcelo Mantecon capped his Great American career with a third consecutive Race of Champions title. Despite battling stomach issues leading into the race, Mantecon controlled the competition and crossed the line in 14:35.9, three seconds off his winning mark from 2025. The performance came against one of the deepest fields in meet history.
For Mantecon, the victory marked the conclusion of a remarkable four-year run at Great American, where he finished third as a freshman before winning three straight championships.
Lowen, meanwhile, continued her dominance on the WakeMed course after winning the 2025 Race of Champions and later capturing the 2025 NXR Southeast title.
With two defending champions once again proving themselves against nationally elite fields, the 2026 COROS Race of Champions provided a fitting showcase for the depth and talent that make the Great American XC Festival one of the premier stops on the high school cross country calendar.
BY CHRIS CABRET
Leave a Reply