Olivia Warr ’23: From Foxcroft Athletic Fields to National Championships
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Olivia Warr ’23: From Foxcroft Athletic Fields to National Championships
For Olivia Warr ’23, running started as a simple way to stay in shape for lacrosse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Encouraged by her stepfather, she laced up her sneakers and hit the pavement, unaware that those early miles would set her on a path to becoming an elite collegiate All-American athlete.
A standout at Foxcroft, Olivia lettered four times in lacrosse and three times in field hockey, contributing to a conference championship in lacrosse. She earned First-Team All-Conference honors twice in field hockey and once in lacrosse, demonstrating her versatility and drive on the field. But it was running that truly captured her heart. “When I started running, it was to maintain fitness for lacrosse,” Olivia recalls. “But I fell in love with it, run by run.”
That passion led her to an early acceptance at Washington and Lee University (W&L) on December 18, 2022, after she made the bold decision to email coach Mike Dager in hopes of walking onto the track team. “It was scary to reach out, but I was fortunate enough for the opportunity to join the team,” she admits. Hard work and perseverance quickly paid off. Olivia made significant strides in her first year, earning Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week twice and W&L Scholar-Athlete for winter.
Determined to push her limits even further in 2025, Olivia has been working closely with her coach to sharpen her focus and refine her skills. Her dedication has led to breaking records. In her first year, Olivia made significant strides, earning multiple honors, including All-Region (1st place), ODAC Runner of the Year, and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country South Region Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, just to name a few. Perhaps most notably, in November, Olivia became the first W&L General since 1995 to earn All-American honors with her 9th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, IN.
“I couldn’t have done this without Foxcroft teaching me to use my resources, put in the work, and never take no for an answer,” Olivia reflects. “The key to performing well is staying healthy for as long as possible and taking care of the little things on the track and off.” From the fields of Foxcroft to the national stage, Olivia Warr ’23 defies expectations and redefines what’s possible through determination, resilience, and an unshakable love for the sport.
Photos by Nico Klementzos Photography courtesy of Washington & Lee Athletics Communications.
