INDIANAPOLIS — Winning her second straight girls' U20 title at the USATF Cross Country Championships, Zariel Macchia (Shirley, NY/USATF Long Island) earned recognition as the first USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2025. Macchia, an 18-year-old senior at William Floyd High School in Mastic, New York, clocked 21:46 for 6km on a chilly and breezy day in Lubbock to defend the USATF U20 crown she earned in 2024, winning by 11 seconds. A two-time World Cross Country Championships competitor for Team USATF, Macchia also represented the U.S. on the track in the 5000 at last year's World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru after winning the USATF U20 gold at that distance. She was the bronze medalist in the 3000 at the 2023 Pan American U20 Championships and has two straight USATF Youth 5km Championships wins on her résumé. Other top performances from last week:
Benard Keter won the men's title at the USATF Cross Country Championships, running 29:43 for 10K to win by nine seconds.
Carrie Ellwood won the women's title at the USATF Cross Country Championships by 23 seconds with a 34:22 10K.
Sam Scott was the U20 men's victor at the USATF Cross Country Championships, winning by 22 seconds with a 25:17 8K.
Nick Christie won the USATF 35K Race Walk Championships in 2:45:31, the ninth-fastest time ever by an American.
Katie Burnett was the women's champion at the USATF 35K Race Walk Championships, covering the course in 3:05:10.
Rick Becker, 70, had the best age-graded score in the masters men's race at the USATF Cross Country Championships, earning an 87.66% mark for his 32:22 8km.
Now in its 24th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2025 Winners: January 15, Zariel Macchia. We welcome your nominations! To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org. Join the conversation with USATF on X, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF. Photo Credit: Kierra Eyiuche-Imagn Images