Cross country runners of all ages are gearing up for a weekend of cross country on both ends of the U.S. Athletes ages 7-18 are headed to Shelbyville, Indiana to compete at the 2024 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships on December 14, while open and masters athletes are making their way to Tacoma, Washington for the 2024 USATF Club Cross Country Championships the same day.
Roughly 3,350 rising stars from every corner of the country will compete for age division titles at Shelbyville’s Blue River Cross Country Course. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s for the youngest runners at the start of competition and should get just shy of 50 as the 17-18 year olds are toeing the line. With just a small chance of rain expected throughout the day, the course should remain fairly dry. In total, a dozen champions will be crowned in the boys and girls 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18 divisions. Competition will be available to watch live on USATF.TV+ starting at 8:45 a.m. ET. More information on the event, including a schedule of races and course maps, can be found here.
Classic cross country conditions will test returning champions Peninsula Distance Club in the women's division, while the men's title will be wide open as hundreds of the top harriers in the nation gather at Chambers Creek Regional Park near Tacoma, Wash., Saturday for the USATF Club Cross National Championships. Weather is going to be a factor, with significant rainfall in the forecast to go along with temperatures in the mid-40's on Saturday. Runners will also be challenged by gusty winds and sloppy footing. In 2023, Peninsula Distance Club had two runners in the top three as they cruised to an almost-perfect score of 18 points and claimed the women's team title. Claire Green, the individual runner-up, and third-place finisher Maya Weigel are back to lead the Peninsula squad. The top men's individual returnee is Ryan Kutch of Central Park TC-Tracksmith, who was second last year. Minnesota Distance Elite is the highest-placing team to return after a second-place effort last year that was keyed by Joseph Trojan's eighth-place individual finish.
Nearly 800 athletes signed up for the three masters races to be held at Chambers Creek Regional Park Saturday, December 14. Masters races will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the women’s 6 km followed by the men’s 60+ 8 km at 10:15 a.m., and men’s 40-59 10 km at 11:15 a.m. The women’s overall race features Carrie Dimoff, who dueled Renee Metivier last year before pulling away for the victory. The Doha 2019 marathoner will be challenged by the 2022 Club Cross Country champion and U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon qualifier, Meriah Earle (San Diego Track Club). Kelly Calway ran in the open championship last year and was just six seconds behind Dimoff in the open race in 2022. Megan Heuer finished third behind Earle in the 2022 Championships. Julia Webb finished fourth in Tallahassee last year and was just a half minute behind Dimoff and Calway in 2022. Others to keep an eye on include Jennifer Lutz, the New England Cross Country champion this year, and Maggie Shearer, who finished second overall at both the 2021 and 2022 editions. In the men’s 40+ race, Malcolm Richards, who decisively won last year, and Joseph Gray, a two-time World Mountain Running Champion and Masters 10K and 5 km Cross Country Champion, are top contenders. Richards has recent marks of 1:06:10 in the half marathon and a 15:07 in the 5K. Jesse Davis, coming off of a USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships win, will be in the mix as the 2021 champion and 2023 runner up. Neil McDonagh won the USATF Masters 1 Mile Road Championships this year and finished second in the USATF Masters 5 km Cross Championships. Other contenders include David Cisewski, who finished third last year, David Clark, Brian Flynn, and Nicholas Kipruto. Nat Larson, the reigning male masters road runner of the year, and holder of every 60-64 American record from the mile to the half marathon, has won the men’s 60+ race the last two years but may choose to drop down to the 40-59 race to help his team. Top contenders in that division will be 2023 top five finishers Steve Schmidt, John Van Danacker, and Kevin Ostenberg. Pete Magill took top honors overall at the 2010 Club Cross Country Championships and Thomas Tayeri had the top 60-64 men’s time at Chicago this year at 2:48:29. Paul Smith, who took the top masters spot at the Stumptown Cross Championships in October, could also threaten for the podium. Running in the 65-69 division, Dan King, who set the 65-69 American record in the mile and 1500, and Jacob Nur, who holds several American records and finished third overall in the 8 km in 2022, could factor into the podium skirmish. Van Danacker looks to lead 2022 champions, TC Running, onto the team 60+ podium again following 2023’s third place showing. Shore AC looks to defend their title against top teams Northwest, Atlanta Track Club, and Bowerman. More information about the USATF Club Cross Country Championships can be found here. Masters Preview Submitted by Paul Carlin