DATE: Saturday, September 19, 2026

LOCATION: Fork Union, VA | Fred Hardy Cross Country Course

SCORE: 4th Overall | 25 Teams
 

SHORT STORY: Fork Union Military Academy's cross country program turned in its best team finish at The Invitational in nearly two decades, placing fourth overall among 25 teams at the 29th annual event Saturday at the Fred Hardy Cross Country Course.
 

The Blue Devils placed four runners inside the top 50, led by Noah St. Julien (Louisa, VA), who cracked the top 10 with a time of 16:36.70. Senior David Eaton (Madison Heights, VA) followed closely behind, finishing 15th in 16:50.90.
 

Junior Jonah Brown (Palmyra, VA) delivered a 40-second personal best on the Hardy Course, crossing the line in 18:11.80 for 41st place. Tyran Johnson (Milwaukee, WI) rounded out Fork Union's top-50 finishers in 49th with a time of 18:26.60, while Austin Knowlton (Scottsville, VA) placed 56th in 18:32.60.
 

Fork Union also had a strong showing in the JV race, highlighted by top-10 performances from Javier Rosa (Kunkletown, PA) and Isaac Weathersbee (Palmyra, VA). Rosa placed third in 12:26.00, while Weathersbee finished eighth in 13:14.00.
 

QUOTE: "We had a tremendous effort on Saturday with our highest finish in 19 years," said head coach Winston Brown. "Not since 2007 have we finished this high. Our top three were outstanding, and our four and five ran the best they have all season. Noah St. Julien cracked the top ten, and senior David Eaton was right behind him. Junior Jonah Brown ran a 40-second personal best for the Hardy Course. Tyran Johnson and Austin Knowlton continue to improve as the season goes on. In the Sabre Division two-mile, we had two top-10 finishes in Javier Rosa and Isaac Weathersbee.
 

"Our event was amazing thanks to the efforts of the entire community. The heroes of the week were Coach Rich Taddei and the maintenance staff, who repaired a key part of the course that was damaged from a summer logging project. Special thanks to Parrish and Tommy!
 

"The 29th Invitational was a shining example of what the Fork Union community can do."
 

KEY PERFORMERS: