Down the Stretch Track Fest is a signature Northern Virginia track event hosted by Light Horse Track Club — built for everyone from first-time track racers to pros chasing standards.

2026 EARLY ACCESS REGISTRATION

STARTS VALENTINE’S DAY FEB 14

A code will be emailed to all previous participants

2026 REGULAR REGISTRATION

OPENS TUES FEB 17

WE’RE CELEBRATING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR: YEAR OF THE HORSE!

DOWN THE STRETCH TRACK FEST

May 23, 2026 | George Mason University

4x8 - Mile - 5k - 10k - On the Track!

Down the Stretch Track Fest is back at GMU for a high-energy night of racing—community heats through elite/pro sections—under the lights.

What to expect:

  • Music all night + big-meet atmosphere

  • Food + beer on-site

  • Professionally run, time-seeded heats

Meet details:

  • Open/community to elite/pro heats

  • Heats seeded by qualifying time

  • Youth Mile (13 & under) is FREE

  • One complimentary beverage included with entry

  • Prize money for Webb Mile (amount TBD)

Race schedule (subject to change)

  • 5:25 PM – Open Mile

  • 6:25 PM – Free Youth Mile

  • 6:45 PM – Open 5000m

  • 7:45 PM – 4x800m Relay

  • 8:15 PM – Select 5K

  • 9:00 PM – Webb Mile

  • 9:30 PM – Select 10K

Venue
George Mason University Track
4501 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030

2025 RESULTS:

WITH SPLITS / WITHOUT SPLITS

PHOTO GALLERIES:

Ted Plunkett / Madison Neuner / Nathen Lopez

Our 2026 beneficiary is Girls on the Run Northern Virginia. A portion of our proceeds will go to GOTR NOVA to support future programming.

The Webb Mile

BEER BY ASLIN!

MEET MERCH

MUSIC ALL NIGHT!

GA Tickets & Trackside Seating

If you’re not competing, volunteering, pacing or coaching - you need a GA ticket!

Your purchase supports Light Horse Track Club, a northern Virginia nonprofit running team dedicated to supporting runners of all levels and enhancing the DC-metro area running scene.

Not Racing? Get Involved!

Not ready to race but want to be part of the action? We’re always looking for volunteers and pacers to help make the Down the Stretch Track Fest a great night.

Pacing needs:
We need pacers for all races, from select fields to 10:00/mi pace.

Perks:
Coaches, volunteers, and pacers receive free entry. Pacers and Volunteers will walk away with meet merch!

📧 Interested? Email us at lighthorsetrackclub@gmail.com

Runner and Event information!

We’re excited to offer fast races for all in a festive atmosphere. Grab a PR and then grab an Aslin beer!

  • All ages are welcome to run. You will be asked for a “seed time” use any recent time or you can estimate your current ability.

  • We will thoughtfully arrange the heats based on entry times, with the fastest runners in our Select heats.

  • Open races will be men and women combined, and select races will have women's races first, followed by men's.

  • The facility will open at an hour and a half before the first event

  • The GMU Fieldhouse will be open as well

  • Food and drink will be available for purchase, including Aslin beer.

  • Any person not competing, volunteering, or pacing will need a GA spectator ticket

  • Children four and under get in free.

  • You can leave and re-enter the facility.

  • No outside food or drink besides water or sports nutritional items is allowed. Bags are allowed.

HEATS/SECTIONS

  • Preliminary heats will be released on the Friday before the meet, but may be updated the day-of the meet due to scratches.

  • The open 5k will have 2+ sections; you must be able to maintain a 10:00 pace

  • The open mile will have 7+ sections; you must be able to run a 10:00 mile or faster

  • We do not have an open 10k. The women’s select section cutoff is 45:00, and the men’s is 35:00. We encourage you to check out our other event: the DC10 on March 28 for more opportunities to race the 10k

CHECK-IN PROCEDURE

  • Please check-in as soon as you get to the meet and pick up your bib number & hip number. If you do not check in, you will be scratched.

  • 15-minutes prior to your race return to the check-in area to get your starting assignment. Secure your hip number with safety pins. Be RACE READY at this point.

  • After your final check-in, you will head as a group to the track for your race. As soon as one race finishes, the next one begins.

BAG DROP AREA

  • We will have an official bag drop area at our check-in tent. There will be a tear-off adhesive tag on your bib number that you can stick onto your bag.

OPEN RACES

  • Our open races are for anyone who can maintain a 10:00 pace or faster in the 5k, or mile.

  • You’re guaranteed a fast, flat course with no 90 or 180-degree turns! Whether you’ve never run a track race before or you’ve run a hundred, you are welcome here.

  • We will run two heats of the open 5k and either or nine heats of the open mile. You will be placed in a heat based on your seed time.

  • Heats will run from slowest to fastest, with men and women combined.

YOUTH MILE

  • Open to any child 13 & Under who can maintain a 15:00 mile or faster.

  • We’ll run one section and combine boys & girls

  • Grab $5 GA Tickets for your runner(s) and family (goes up to $10 at the gate)

SELECT RACES:

We are building up our fields for the select races! We are anticipating winning times around the following. We will update this as entries and commitments continue to come in.

  • Women's Webb Mile: Sub 4:30

  • Women's 5000: Sub 15:30

  • Women’s 10000: Sub 36:00

  • Men's Webb Mile: Sub 3:55

  • Men’s 5000: Sub 14:00

  • Men's 10000: Sub 31:00

AWARDS

  • We will have prize money for the Webb Mile: Amount TBD

  • Winners of each section get the coveted green apple! Who’s walking away with an apple this year?

SPECTATOR TICKETS

  • If you’re not racing, coaching, pacing, or volunteering, you will need a spectator ticket (including all youth mile runners). Children under 4 get in free. We may reach capacity this year - buy your tickets ahead of time and secure your spot!

  • $5 General Admission tickets are now on sale - price increase to $10 on the day-of and at the gate. Buy them now & save!

  • Now introducing Trackside Seating! Limited to 100 people, get up close to the action. Tickets are $30 and include a complimentary beer or another beverage plus your own seat. Price increases to $40 on the day of & at the gate.

  • Get your tickets here

DIRECTIONS / PARKING:

  • 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 - the outdoor track and field complex is behind the fieldhouse. Enter “George Mason University Fieldhouse” into your GPS

  • Parking is available adjacent to the track

  • Check out driving directions and construction/traffic alerts.

  • The nearest airports to campus are Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Washington Reagan Airport (DCA). Shuttles are available through private companies, as are cabs.

  • George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus is accessible via Metro Bus and Cue Bus (Fairfax City bus). Mason is also located near the Vienna/Fairfax/GMU Metro stop, and Mason provides regular shuttles from the Metro stop to campus. Check out shuttle and bus information.

PROHIBITED ITEMS:

  • Any food or beverage except for water or sports nutritional food or drink.

  • Weapons (including, without limitation, pocket knives), fireworks, and other illegal drugs and substances

  • Animals (except service animals)

  • Beach balls and other inflatable items

  • Laser pens and laser pointers

  • Skateboards, hoverboards, scooters for non-ADA use, and wheeled footwear

  • Drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles

  • Toy guns or toy knives (including, without limitation, water guns)

  • Any other item deemed dangerous or inappropriate

FINAL SCHEDULE

(Times we’ll delay the meet for if we’re running ahead of schedule are bolded)

5:20 - Youth 4x100 Relay

5:25 - Open Mile, 1st section: 

5:38 - Open Mile, 2nd section

5:46 - Open Mile, 3rd section

5:54 - Open Mile, 4th section

6:02 - Open mile, 5th section

6:10 - Open mile, 6th section

6:18 - Open mile, 7th section

6:25 - Youth Mile

6:45 - Open 5k, 1st section

7:20 - Open 5k, 2nd section

7:45 - 4x800 Relay (one section)

8:05 - National Anthem

8:15 - Select 5k, Womens

8:35 - Select 5k, Mens

9:00 - Open Mile, 8th Section

9:10 - Women’s Webb Mile

9:20 - Men’s Webb Mile

9:30 - Men’s/Women’s Select 10k