Saint James School Won Manhattan Invitational Race
The girls varsity cross country team secured a historic victory in the freshman division of the large-scale meet.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Track & Field
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The Saint James School girls varsity cross country team claimed victory in the freshman race at the HOKA Manhattan University Invitational. This win marked the first time a middle school team has ever won this specific race at the event.
Why it matters
The team competed against high school participants in the nation's largest meet, demonstrating exceptional performance by a younger squad. Their success highlights an impressive competitive breakthrough on a major regional stage in New York City.
The winning Saint James School team consisted of 5 runners who secured the freshman title. This victory is notable as the event is recognized as the largest high school cross country meet in the nation.
The players
Saint James School
This educational institution fields the girls varsity cross country team that achieved the historic victory.
Bella Melilli
She is one of the five runners who contributed to the team's winning performance in the freshman race.
Avery Pfistner
She participated as a member of the Saint James School varsity cross country team.
Liv Battista
She is an athlete on the winning cross country squad that competed at Van Cortlandt Park.
Teagan Rogers
She helped the Saint James School team earn its first-place finish at the Manhattan University Invitational.
The details
Team members Bella Melilli, Avery Pfistner, Liv Battista, Teagan Rogers, and Julia Daus combined their efforts to navigate the course at Van Cortlandt Park. Their collective performance allowed the middle school team to outpace high school competitors in the freshman category.
Timeline
The meet took place on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The victory by the middle school team at the HOKA Manhattan University Invitational marks a deviation from the meet's history of high school winners. This achievement challenges traditional competitive hierarchy and establishes a new benchmark for middle school participation in elite high school events.
The win indicates that the Saint James School roster has successfully adapted to racing against older, higher-level competition. This shift in the freshman race standings confirms the high potential of these athletes for upcoming championship meets.
The takeaway
This victory demonstrates that middle school athletes can successfully compete and win against established high school squads in large-scale meets. Future competitors should prepare for a shift in the competitive landscape as younger teams increasingly challenge traditional age-group barriers.
Further reading
For more coverage on regional racing, see Track & Field.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Jersey Hills.
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