INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time since 2019, USATF is set to send full senior and U20 squads to the World Cross Country Championships, to be held in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia at Mount Panorama on February 18. Having secured a decisive win at the USATF Cross Country Championships in January, Ednah Kurgat will lead the women’s senior team in her Team USATF debut. USATF Cross Country Champion Emmanuel Bor will use his experience from the 2019 World Cross Country team to guide the senior men’s squad in Bathurst. Gatorade Girls Cross Country National Player of the Year and Stanford commit, Irene Riggs is joined by soon-to-be Cardinal Leo Young to head a promising group in the U20 delegation. A total of 28 athletes between the senior and U20 divisions have secured a spot on Team USATF. Read more on each one below.
Ednah Kurgat (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF Colorado) USATF champion in 32:07 (10km), her first national title... won 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships for New Mexico to lead them to team trophy… 11th in 10,000m at the 2021 Olympic Trials in her first year of U.S. eligibility after transfer of allegiance from her native Kenya… has a 31:21.65 track PB for 10,000m… fifth in 2018 and seventh in 2019 at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, helping New Mexico to top-five team finishes. Makena Morley (Bozeman, Montana/USATF Montana) Runner-up at USATF Championships in 32:24 (10km)... has a track 10,000m PB of 31:25.19 and ran at the 2022 USATF Championships… 10th at Chicago Marathon in 2022 with a PB 2:30:28… runner-up at the 2021 USATF 20km Championships… set half marathon PB of 69:57 in 2021… placed fourth at the 2021 USATF 15km Championships… Olympic Trials qualifier in the 10,000m in 2021… NCAA finalist in the outdoor 5,000m and 10,000m and indoor 3,000m and 5,000m for Colorado in 2019… eighth at 2018 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships to help Colorado win the team title. Emily Lipari (San Diego, California/USATF San Diego-Imperial) Fourth at USATF Championships in 32:32 (10km)... 2022 NACAC silver medalist in 10,000m after placing eighth at USATF Outdoor Championships… won USATF Road Mile title last year, adding to her 2018 and 2020 titles… won 2014 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships mile for Villanova… fifth at 2013 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships… anchored her school to NCAA indoor silver in the distance medley relay in 2013… has a 10,000m track PB of 31:24.82. Weini Kelati (Flagstaff, Arizona/USATF Arizona) Fifth at USATF Championships in 32:39 (10km)... runner-up at 2022 USATF Cross Country Championships… fourth in the 5,000m and fifth in the 10,000m at 2022 USATF Championships… bronze in 3,000m at USATF Indoor Championships last year… became eligible to represent Team USATF in June 2021 after transferring allegiance from Eritrea… won 2019 NCAA Division I individual cross country title for New Mexico… NCAA Division I 10,000m champion in 2019, also fifth in 5,000m… runner-up at 2018 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships to lead New Mexico to second in the team standings… was seventh individually at the 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships and was on team champion with Ednah Kurgat. Katie Izzo (Huntington Beach, California/USATF Southern California) Sixth at USATF Championships in 32:40 (10km)... 2021 Olympic Trials 5,000m qualifier… led Arkansas to the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country team trophy with a third-place individual finish in race won by Weini Kelati… fourth in the 10,000m at the 2021 NCAA Division I Championships… 2020 Southeastern Conference indoor champion in the 3,000m and 5,000m. Allie Buchalski (Seattle, Washington/USATF Pacific Northwest) Seventh at USATF Championships in 33:02 (10km)... set her 5,000m track PB of 14:57.54 in 2021 and finished fifth at the Olympic Trials… also clocked a PB 4:06.19 on the track for 1,500m that year… finished ninth at the 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships for Furman and followed up with a silver in the 5,000m at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in 2018… seventh at the NCAA cross country meet as a junior, and sixth in the NCAA outdoor 5,000m.
Emmanuel Bor (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF Colorado) USATF Champion in 28:44 (10km)... fifth in the 5,000m and eighth in the 10,000m at the USATF Outdoor Championships last summer after a runner-up finish at the USATF Indoor Championships in the 3,000m… ran his PB of 13:00.48 for 5,000m indoors at Boston last February… fifth in Olympic Trials 5,000m in 2021, also 10th in the 10,000m… runner-up at 2020 USATF Cross Country Championships… ran on Team USATF at 2019 World Athletics Cross Country Championships after a silver medal at the USATF Championships. Andrew Colley (Blowing Rock, North Carolina/USATF North Carolina) Second at USATF Championships in 28:48 (10km)... two-time Team USATF member at World Athletics Cross Country Championships, earning a berth in 2010 and 2015… third in USATF Half Marathon Championships in 2018 and 2019… ran collegiately for North Carolina State, finished seventh individually at 2013 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships… 62:24 half marathon PB set at Valencia in 2018. Anthony Rotich (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF Colorado) Third at USATF Championships in 28:49 (10km)... fourth at 2022 NACAC Championships in 3,000m steeplechase after taking fifth at USATF Outdoor Championships… 13th in Olympic Trials steeplechase in 2021… USATF Cross Country Championships gold medalist in 2020… USATF 5km Championships winner in 2019… three-time NCAA Division I 3,000m steeplechase champion for UTEP from 2013-15… ran at four straight NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships from 2012-15, with a highest placing of fourth in 2012. Sam Chelanga (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF Georgia) Fifth at USATF Championships in 28:49 (10km)… bronze medalist at 2022 USATF Championships… 2017 Team USATF member at World Athletics Cross Country Championships, finishing 11th… ran for U.S. at 2018 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships, taking 14th… eighth in 10,000m at 2021 Olympic Trials… 2018 USATF 25km champion… won USATF 10 miles and 12km titles in 2015… twice an NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships gold medalist for Liberty in 2009-10… NCAA 10,000m champion in 2010, added 5,000m title in 2011. Dillon Maggard (North Logan, Utah/USATF Pacific Northwest) Sixth at USATF Championships in 28:49 (10km)... runner-up at USATF Championships in 2022… finished ninth in the 3,000m at World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2022… NACAC silver medalist in 10,000m last year… fourth in 10,000m at USATF Outdoor Championships… ran in 1,500m and 10,000m at 2021 Olympic Trials… fourth at 2020 USATF Championships… bronze medalist in NCAA Division I Championships 10,000m for Utah State in 2018… sixth at 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Reid Buchanan (San Diego, California/USATF San Diego-Imperial) Seventh at USATF Championships in 28:49 (10km)... fourth in USATF Half Marathon Championships last year… ninth in 10,000m at 2021 Olympic Trials… set marathon PB of 2:11:38 and half marathon PB of 61:45 in 2020… Pan American Games 10,000m silver medalist in 2019 for Team USATF… NACAC cross country bronze medalist in 2019… ran collegiately for Portland, qualifying for 2014 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
Emma Coburn (Boulder, Colorado/USATF Colorado) World champion in 3,000m steeplechase in 2017 and took bronze at 2016 Olympic Games… also earned a silver at the 2019 World Championships… former American record holder, has a best of 9:02.35… three-time Olympian and five-time World Championships team member… won multiple NCAA track titles while at Colorado. Heather MacLean (Watertown, Massachusetts/USATF New England) NACAC 1,500m champion in 2022… set 1,500m PB of 3:58.76 at Brussels last summer… seventh at World Athletics Indoor Championships in 1,500m… won USATF Indoor Championships 1,500m in 2022… seventh in Diamond League 1,500m final… Olympian in 2021 in 1,500m after taking third at the Olympic Trials… ran collegiately for Massachusetts-Amherst and qualified for 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, placing 26th. Jordan Mann (Providence, Rhode Island/USATF New England) 19th at USATF Championships in 29:35 (10km)... helped Team USATF to a fourth-place finish in the mixed relay at 2019 World Athletics Cross Country Championships… NACAC bronze medalist in 3,000m steeplechase in 2018 after taking fifth at USATF Outdoor Championships… NCAA Division I qualifier in 3,000m steeplechase for Providence in 2016. Alec Basten (St. Louis, Missouri/USATF Ozark) Seventh in 3,000m steeplechase at 2022 NCAA Division I Championships for Minnesota… 10th at 2021 Olympic Trials in steeplechase… competed in 2019 and 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships… steeplechase PB of 8:22.22, set in 2021.
Irene Riggs (Morgantown, West Virginia/USATF West Virginia) 28Dec04 Senior at Morgantown High School… won USATF U20 title in 19:45 (6km)... won NXN Nike Cross Nationals in 16:41 (5km)... West Virginia state champion in 16:33 (5km)... won West Virginia state class AAA track titles at 800m, 1,600m and 3,200m in 2022… has a 3,000m track PB of 9:14.72. Ellie Shea (Belmont, Massachusetts/USATF New England) 06Sep05 Junior at Belmont High School… runner-up at USATF U20 Championships in 19:48 (6km)... runner-up at CHAMPS Sports National XC Championships in 16:56 (5km)... runner-up in two mile at 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals… winner of 5,000m in 15:49.47 and second at New Balance Indoor Nationals in two mile… Nike Outdoor Nationals 5,000m champion in 2021 at 16:10.42. Zariel Macchia (Shirley, New York/USATF Long Island) 14May06 Sophomore at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, New York… bronze medalist at USATF U20 Championships in 20:05 (6km)... USATF National Youth 5km champion in 17:41… runner-up at Garmin RunningLane XC Championships… New York state high school champion… won 2022 USATF U20 title… second in two mile at 2022 New Balance Outdoor Nationals… 2022 Nike Indoor Nationals two mile champion. Karrilynn (Karrie) Baloga (New Windsor, New York/USATF New York) 05Oct05 Senior at Cornwall Central High School… fifth at USATF U20 Championships in 20:07 (6km)… CHAMPS Sports National Cross Country champion in 16:50 (5km)… New York state high school champion… 11th at World Athletics U20 Championships in 3,000m steeplechase in 2022… runner up in 3,000m steeplechase at USATF U20 Championships… New York state high school champion in 3,000m, second in 2,000m steeplechase. Eva Klingbeil (Longmont, Colorado/USATF Colorado) 06Apr04 Freshman at University of North Carolina… sixth at USATF U20 Championships in 20:11 (6km)… ran on UNC team that finished fifth at 2022 NCAA Cross Country Championships… Colorado state high school 4A champion in 2021 in 17:59 (5km)... third in two mile at Brooks PR Invitational in 2022… Colorado high school champion in 1,600m and 3,200m in 2022… ran on winning distance medley relay and 4xMile relay at 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals with Real Training TC. Allie Zealand (Forest, Virginia/USATF Virginia) 07Sep06 Junior at Pacers Homeschool in Lynchburg, Virginia… eighth at USATF U20 Championships in 20:32 (6km)... won mile at adidas Indoor Nationals in 2022… fourth at Garmin RunningLane XC Nationals… eighth at CHAMPS Sports National Cross Country Championships.
Emilio (Leo) Young (Camarillo, California/USATF Southern California) 28Feb05 Senior at Newbury Park High School… won USATF U20 Championships in 23:47 (8km)... runner-up at California state high school championships… 11th at NXN Nike Cross Nationals… has a mile PB of 4:00.77 on the track… ran 8:39.57 for 3,200m in 2022… second at California state high school XC meet in 2021… runner-up at Garmin RunningLane XC Championships in 2021. Micah Wilson (St. Charles, Illinois/USATF Illinois) 14Jan04 Freshman at the University of Wisconsin… runner-up at USATF U20 Championships in 23:54 (8km)... fourth in 5,000m at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 2022… 2022 bronze medalist in 3,200m at Illinois 3A state high school meet for East High School, also fourth in 1,600m… 2021 silver medalist in 5,000m at Nike Outdoor Nationals… Illinois 3A state 3,200m champion as a junior. Marco Langon (Raritan, New Jersey/USATF New Jersey) 31Aug04 Freshman at Villanova University… bronze medalist at USATF U20 Championships in 23:54 (8km)... ran on Villanova's NCAA Cross Country Championships team, finishing 121st individually… 13th at the Big East conference championships… won 3,200m for Bridgewater-Raritan High School at New Jersey indoor Meet of Champions in 8:48.28… New Jersey Meet of Champions cross country winner in 2021. Evan Jenkins (Camas, Washington/USATF Pacific Northwest) 29Mar04 Freshman at the University of Washington… fourth at USATF U20 Championships in 23:55 (8km)... has a track 3,200m best of 8:50.77… fourth at 2019 Washington high school state 4A meet in 15:18 (5km). Max Sannes (Big Bear Lake, California/USATF Southern California) 09Jan04 Freshman at Air Force Academy… fifth at USATF U20 Championships in 23:55 (8km)... finished 27th at the Mountain West Conference championships in the fall… won California high school Division IV cross country title in 2021… seventh in 3,200m at 2022 California state high school track championships for Big Bear Lake. Kole Mathison (Carmel, Indiana/USATF Indiana) 18Jan05 Senior at Carmel High School… seventh at USATF U20 Championships in 24:12 (8km)... won CHAMPS Sports National Cross Country Championships… fourth at NXN Nike Cross Nationals… Indiana high school state champion… won 2022 Indiana high school 1,600m title in 4:04.82 and 3,200m in 8:59.05… runner-up in 3,200m at Indiana state meet as a sophomore. More information on the Championship can be found here. Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #JourneyToGold.