MD Cross Country Runner Wins National Collegiate Title

EDGEWATER, MD — While attending South River High School in Edgewater, cross country runner Patrick Watson typically was toward the middle of the pack when competing. Fast forward to his senior year at Stevenson College where Watson became the NCAA Division III cross country champion in November.

"It almost didn't feel real," Watson told PressBox.

Watson ran the 8K course (4.9 miles) in 24 minutes, 13.9 seconds. He was at least six seconds ahead of the next runner and became the first Stevenson athlete to snag an individual national championship in any sport.

"Coming down that [final] straightaway, I was just in awe, trying to figure out what was going on," he said.

For @GoMustangSports' Patrick Watson, going "all-in" and committing completely to the sport were key to winning an individual D-III cross country title: https://t.co/OCB1becSmH pic.twitter.com/lzC6TM5aKc
— PressBox (@PressBoxOnline) December 19, 2019