Eight conference championships. Four divisions. Two varsity races.
And dozens of runners chasing the opportunity to finish the 2026 season as Chagrin Valley Conference champions.
The 2026 CVC Cross Country Championships will bring the conference’s boys and girls teams together Saturday, October 17, at Hawken School’s Upper Campus, where the league will crown team champions in the Lake, Chagrin, Valley, and Metro Divisions.
The boys varsity race begins at 10 a.m., followed by the girls varsity race at 10:45 a.m.
While all four divisions compete together in each race, separate team championships and individual MVP awards will be determined within each division. The first 25 finishers in each varsity race will also earn All-CVC honors, regardless of divisional affiliation.
The championship meet arrives on the heels of several impressive performances, including Kirtland’s girls team championship at the Legends Meet, a strong showing by the Chagrin Falls boys, and outstanding individual performances by some of the conference’s fastest runners.
Among the featured contenders are West Geauga’s Ian Res, Chagrin Falls’ Kelan Byrne and Gabby Byrne, Crestwood’s Luci Maschek, Berkshire’s Claire Passow and Kirtland’s Kylie Sayle.
With championship hardware at stake, Saturday promises compelling races at both the front of the field and within the scoring packs.
Boys Championship Preview
Valley Division: Chagrin Falls and Berkshire bring championship-caliber depth
The Valley Division boys championship shapes up as one of the meet’s most compelling team races, with Chagrin Falls Boys Cross Country and Berkshire Boys Cross Country bringing impressive depth into the postseason.
Chagrin Falls enters following a third-place finish in the small-school race at the October 10 Legends Meet, where the Tigers recorded 193 points and a five-runner average of 16:53.14.
Senior Kelan Byrne leads the Tigers with a season-best 15:38.10, one of the fastest reported times among CVC runners this fall.
Byrne finished fifth overall at Legends, while freshman Jameson Byrne finished 19th in 16:40.30.
The Tigers also feature James Marcin (16:22.50 season best), TJ Mitchell (16:26.40) and Michael Hanley (17:03.50), giving Chagrin Falls five runners with reported season-best times of 17:03.50 or faster.
Berkshire, meanwhile, finished sixth at Legends with 217 points and possesses a scoring pack capable of challenging the Tigers.
Danny Auth (16:51.00), Ben Townsend (16:51.20), Aiden Hollingsworth (16:55.20), Evan Tromba (16:59.10) and Tripp Wadsworth (17:05.40) have all broken 17:06 this season.
At Legends, Berkshire’s top five were separated by just 1:05.90.
Chagrin Falls possesses the faster front-runner and several high-end individual contenders, while Berkshire’s tightly grouped lineup could make every place count.
Fairview Boys Cross Country also enters with one of the conference’s most intriguing scoring packs. The Warriors recorded a remarkable 15.10-second spread between their first and fifth runners at Legends, with Nate Stoessner (17:56.50) and Jesten Wandrup (17:59.70) among their leaders.
Crestwood Boys Cross Country, Beachwood Boys Cross Country, Wickliffe Boys Cross Country and Trinity Boys Cross Country round out the division’s potential challengers.
Wickliffe’s Caleb Wallace (17:08.50) and Crestwood’s Evan Rhodes (17:50.00) are among the runners to watch.
Chagrin Division: Res leads West Geauga into a competitive field
West Geauga Boys Cross Country enters championship week with one of the conference’s premier individual contenders in Ian Res, whose 15:20.30 season best is the fastest reported 5K time among CVC boys.
The Wolverines also feature Joey Lubanovich (16:53.70), Mason Starr (17:07.00) and Charlie Allin (17:16.10).
West Geauga’s recent five-runner average has improved from 18:26.13 to 17:24.90 across its latest three recorded team performances, reflecting considerable progress as the championship approaches.
Orange Boys Cross Country could challenge with Griffin Berlin, who has run 15:59.00 this season.
The Lions also have Bennett Johnson (16:57.70), Calvin Schroer (16:58.80), Landon Bell (17:31.40) and Joe Chaisson (17:55.90).
The division also features several teams with postseason potential.
Edgewood Boys Cross Country finished second at the Ashtabula County Championships with 47 points, just three behind champion Geneva.
The Warriors are led by Reece Kovach (17:17.90), Chase Cardona (17:19.90) and Carter Cline (17:31.70).
Conneaut Boys Cross Country counters with Ethan Van Norman (16:13.30), while Jefferson Boys Cross Country features Cody Weber (16:27.40), Preston Hitchcock (17:39.00) and Kooper Newhart (17:52.20).
Perry Boys Cross Country and host Hawken Boys Cross Country will also look to make an impact. Perry’s Hunter Kline has run 17:25.40, while Hawken’s Maximilian Moore owns a 17:05.60 season best.
The Chagrin Division could produce one of the closest individual MVP battles, particularly if Res, Berlin and Van Norman arrive in peak form.
Lake Division: Geneva carries championship momentum
Geneva Boys Cross Country enters the CVC meet following a victory at the Ashtabula County Championships.
The Eagles totaled 44 points to edge Edgewood by three points in the October 10 competition.
Geneva features John D’Alessandro (17:15.20), Conor Shontz (17:33.80) and several other runners capable of contributing to its scoring total.
Chardon Boys Cross Country will be another team to watch after competing in the large-school race at Legends.
The Hilltoppers are led by Matthew Ghobrial, who lowered his season best to 16:46.70, an improvement of 1:10.30.
Chardon also features Kyle Nedved (17:06.70), Bryson Koehler (17:41.40), Tyler Milk (17:51.90) and Ashton Ryan (17:52.80).
Lutheran West Boys Cross Country has shown substantial improvement, lowering its latest five-runner average to 17:58.92.
Jacob Vonhof (16:43.80), Jackson Heisner (17:09.60), Braylon Johnson (17:52.20) and Mark Disch (17:53.10) give the Longhorns a competitive group.
Willoughby South Boys Cross Country features Leland Dunham, who owns a 17:03.50 season best.
Madison Boys Cross Country, Eastlake North Boys Cross Country, Harvey Boys Cross Country and Lakeside Boys Cross Country will also compete for divisional positioning and All-CVC honors.
Metro Division: Independence brings a strong front four
Independence Boys Cross Country enters with one of the strongest collections of front-running talent in the Metro Division.
Mitchell Creel leads the Blue Devils with a season-best 16:07.70, followed by Jayden Musni (16:56.50), Archer Dlugolinski (17:04.10) and Andrew Gibbons (17:25.60).
Creel is among the leading candidates for divisional MVP honors, and Independence’s depth makes the Blue Devils a team to watch in the championship standings.
Kirtland Boys Cross Country has steadily improved throughout the season, reducing its five-runner average from 20:34.44 to 19:36.42 across its latest three recorded performances.
Rootstown Boys Cross Country, Cuyahoga Heights Boys Cross Country, Brooklyn Boys Cross Country, Fairport Boys Cross Country and Richmond Heights Boys Cross Country complete the division’s championship field.
Rootstown and Kirtland will look to challenge Independence, while Richmond Heights’ Nicholas McWilliams (17:46.00) is among the individual contenders.
Girls Championship Preview
Valley Division: Some of the CVC’s best are chasing the same championship
If the boys’ Valley Division race promises drama, the girls’ competition could be even more compelling.
Chagrin Falls Girls Cross Country, Crestwood Girls Cross Country and Berkshire Girls Cross Country feature several of the fastest girls in the conference.
Chagrin Falls junior Gabby Byrne owns the conference’s fastest reported girls 5K this season at 18:16.68.
Byrne finished seventh in the small-school race at Legends in 18:57.50, providing another strong performance heading into championship week.
Crestwood counters with freshman Luci Maschek, who owns an 18:29.73 season best.
Maschek finished third in the Legends small-school race in 18:32.70, followed by teammate Piper Seibold, who finished sixth in 18:54.50.
The Red Devils finished second as a team with 122 points, just four behind Kirtland, while recording a 19:48.46 five-runner average.
Madie Grace Gonczy (19:38.10), Piper Freedline (20:21.80) and Abby Pfost (21:14.90) add scoring depth.
Berkshire has its own impressive lineup, led by freshman Claire Passow, whose 18:37.30 season best places her among the conference’s elite runners.
Addison Passow (19:32.10), June Dunlap (19:40.20), Ella Strmen (20:45.90) and Ashlyn Brzozowski (21:13.14) give the Badgers multiple scoring options.
Berkshire finished fifth at Legends with 164 points, setting up another opportunity to compete against Crestwood and Chagrin Falls.
Beachwood Girls Cross Country could also play a significant role with Meena Abdul-Basser (19:54.40), Kasey Flowers (20:26.80), Hailey Flowers (20:29.00) and Sulha Moritz (20:38.40).
Beachwood’s five-runner average has improved by more than three minutes across its latest three recorded team performances.
Fairview Girls Cross Country features Emily Dahler (19:57.20), Claire Dahler (20:55.30) and Erika Munekata (21:26.59).
The division’s team championship may ultimately come down to which school receives the strongest performances from its fourth and fifth runners.
Metro Division: Kirtland arrives with a title and a target
Kirtland Girls Cross Country enters the CVC Championships following one of its biggest performances of the season.
The Hornets won the small-school team championship at the October 10 Legends Meet, scoring 118 points to edge Crestwood by four.
It marked Kirtland’s first team award at the Legends Meet.
Junior Kylie Sayle finished fifth overall in 18:51.20, the third-fastest reported time this season among Kirtland’s historical girls 5K leaders.
But the Hornets’ strength extends well beyond their top runner.
Anna Hill (20:00.10), Mila Delgado (20:00.90), Danika Schaum (20:13.40) and Nadija Mrva (20:19.10) give Kirtland five runners with season-best times under 20:20.
Kirtland, which has won six straight Valley Division titles, also recorded a 1:47.20 scoring spread at Legends, demonstrating the depth that has made the Hornets a formidable team throughout the fall.
The Hornets enter the conference championship ranked sixth in the Division IV state coaches’ poll.
Independence Girls Cross Country features Leah Creel (20:43.00) and Lucy Lu (20:55.90), while Rootstown Girls Cross Country counters with Brynn Bird (20:52.00) and Cara Crandell (21:06.00).
Cuyahoga Heights Girls Cross Country has an individual contender in Joee Cichocki (20:25.50).
Kirtland appears well-positioned to contend for the Metro Division championship, but the other teams will have opportunities to influence the scoring battle and pursue individual All-CVC honors.
Chagrin Division: Cellini, Campbell headline individual race
Conneaut Girls Cross Country enters the championship meet following a runner-up finish at the Ashtabula County Championships.
The Spartans scored 41 points and finished behind St. John at the October 10 meet.
Junior Vivianna Cellini leads Conneaut with a season-best 18:47.10.
Cellini won the individual title at the county meet in 20:40.10, while teammate Anna Ring finished fourth in 22:14.70.
Ring owns a season-best time of 20:13.60.
Orange Girls Cross Country features another top contender in Marina Campbell, who has run 19:10.30 this season.
Jefferson Girls Cross Country will look to Grace Dzura (20:15.90), while Perry Girls Cross Country features Hazel Kananen (20:42.70).
Host Hawken Girls Cross Country has a contender in Annalisia Honda (20:48.90).
West Geauga Girls Cross Country and Edgewood Girls Cross Country round out a division where team depth and race-day execution could determine the championship.
Lake Division: Chardon features one of the conference’s strongest duos
Chardon Girls Cross Country enters the conference championship with two of the Lake Division’s fastest runners.
Zoey Myers has run 18:47.30 this season, while Mira Palombo owns a 19:07.50 personal best for the season.
Both figure to be prominent contenders for the divisional MVP award and overall All-CVC honors.
Lutheran West Girls Cross Country counters with Hannah Mueller, whose 19:39.60 ranks among the division’s fastest reported times.
The Longhorns have shown substantial progress as a team, reducing their latest five-runner average to 22:37.44, nearly three minutes faster than their previous reported meet.
Geneva Girls Cross Country finished third at the Ashtabula County Championships and features Adriana Belconis (19:39.90) and Paytton Lemponen (21:17.80).
The Eagles have lowered their five-runner average from 23:34.24 to 22:04.68 over their latest three recorded performances.
Willoughby South Girls Cross Country has a strong individual contender in Emma Shearer (20:23.20).
Madison Girls Cross Country features Molly Canfield (20:57.10) and Ellie Langtry (21:13.50).
North Girls Cross Country, Harvey Girls Cross Country and Lakeside Girls Cross Country will also compete in the Lake Division championship race.
More Than a Divisional Championship
Saturday’s races carry added significance because the conference will recognize the first 25 runners across the entire boys and girls varsity fields as All-CVC performers.
The top finisher from each division will also receive CVC MVP honors, creating four individual MVPs in each varsity race.
Teams are permitted to enter up to nine runners in their respective varsity races, and each school may designate up to two honorable mention selections.
With separate divisional championships, individual MVP awards and 25 All-CVC medals available in each varsity race, Saturday’s event will reward both front-running excellence and the depth that defines successful cross country programs.
The season-best times and recent meet results provide a glimpse of the contenders, but championship races are ultimately decided by places, not personal records.
And with multiple divisions featuring closely matched teams and runners, the smallest scoring margins could make the biggest difference.
2026 CVC Cross Country Championships: Meet Information
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Location: Hawken School Upper Campus, 12465 County Line Road, Chesterland, OH 44026
Schedule:
- 9:15 a.m. — High school coaches meeting
- 10:00 a.m. — Boys varsity championship (all divisions)
- 10:45 a.m. — Girls varsity championship (all divisions)
- 11:30 a.m. — Girls and boys open race
- Noon — High school awards (stadium)
- 12:30 p.m. — Middle school boys
- 1:15 p.m. — Middle school girls
- Following final race — Middle school awards
Spectator parking: $10 per vehicle, payable in cash or online. Advance purchases are encouraged.
Tickets: https://www.hawkenhawks.com/information/Tickets
Spectator information: The course is designed to provide multiple viewing opportunities. Spectators may watch from most areas of the course but must remain in the stadium bleachers or outside the perimeter fence during the stadium finish.
Results: Official timing will be provided by GCXC, with results posted to Athletic.net following the meet.
The starting line is adjacent to the stadium, and the finish line is located inside the stadium on the main field.
