Nearly 400 students took part in individual and relay races at Franklin Park on Thursday
FRANKLIN PARK, BOSTON – On a sunny, chilly October morning, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) hosted the 2026 Boston Middle School Cross Country Championships today at Franklin Park. Nearly 400 student-athletes from 12 City of Boston schools competed to crown the fastest runners in the city. The course was nearly a mile around Playstead Field in Franklin Park, and all participants earned a unique unicorn finisher medal.
Since 1997, the B.A.A., Boston Public Schools, and Boston Parks and Recreation have hosted the Boston Middle School Cross Country Championships to celebrate healthy lifestyles and promote physical fitness among Boston youths. Over 14,000 student-athletes have participated in the event since its inception.
“This is where it all begins – Franklin Park on a beautiful day for running,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. “We hope the energy and experience for these young runners inspires them to continue their running journey in Boston and beyond. We look forward to being back at Franklin Park soon for the Mayor’s Cup Cross Country meet and the Boston Half in November.”
Complete Boston Middle School Cross Country Championships results are available here. Team point totals are based on the sum of each school’s top five finisher placings.
Event photos will be available here shortly and may be used with credit to the Boston Athletic Association. WCVB TV, the official broadcast partner of B.A.A. races, was on hand to provide coverage of the day’s races.
Boston Latin School (BLS) earned the Girl’s Team title with a 21-point win over second place, The Eliot School. Boston Latin’s Manali Rao was named champion in the girl’s division, finishing the nine-tenths of a mile route in an impressive 5:21.
“It feels so good. I’ve come to this meet twice and have never got this close [to winning],” said Rao. “I just knew I was going to try and stick with the top group and then I ended up winning. I just ran as fast as I could!”
BLS earned the title of Girl’s Team Champions with a 25-point score, followed by Eliot School with 46 points and Warren Prescott with 63 points.
Joining Rao in the top ten from BLS was Gwendolen Barrer (3rd, 6:08), Christine Bikle Guthrie (6th, 6:12), Sloane McGrath (7th, 6:14), Violette Fiala (8th, 6:15), and Stella Xiao (9th, 6:21).
Boston Latin School (BLS) also dominated the Boys race, taking seven of the top ten places. Leading the way was Gerald Schlechter, covering the course in 5:07. Quickly behind him were teammates George Richey (5:13) and Sebastian Coster (5:15), completing a sweep of the podium for BLS.
“I honestly had no expectations. I was hoping and thinking I’d get like fifth or sixth, but not first!” said Schlechter. He credited his teammates and family for helping him get through the course. “My mom was here supporting me, and all my friends, and it was just great. I love this team, my coaches, and this event is just such a great experience. It’s my first time here and I love it.”
Boston Latin School tallied 19 points, topping O’Bryant (57 points) and Warren Prescott (90) for the team title.
The Co-Ed Relay capped today’s racing, featuring two boys and two girls from each school. Team Tobin and Boston Latin School both timed 1:17, with Tobin earning the edge by a slim .11 of a second margin. Seven total schools were 1:20 or faster: Tobin, Boston Latin, O’Bryant, Kilmer, Eliot, and Warren Prescott.
All finishers were presented B.A.A. unicorn medals by two-time Olympian and B.A.A. High Performance Team Coach Mark Carroll, who was joined by professional runners from the B.A.A. High Performance Team.
Thursday’s races not only served as the City’s cross-country championship meet, but also as a qualifier event for April’s B.A.A. Middle School 1K. The B.A.A. Middle School 1K is held as part of the B.A.A. Invitational Mile, where athletes from each of the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route compete on Boylston Street.
The Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. is committed to a world where all people can access and benefit from running and an active lifestyle.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 131st Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will be held on Monday, April 19, 2027.
The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Cape Town, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Chris Lotsbom, Senior Director of Communications & Public Relations
Clotsbom@baa.org
Anusha Mookherjee, Senior Manager of Public Relations
aMookherjee@baa.org
Celia Oswitch, Manager of Communications
Coswitch@baa.org