Weini Kelati stormed to a commanding win in the women’s 10K and Parker Wolfe threw down a late kick to take the men’s 10K as both were dominant at the USATF Cross-Country Championships in Portland, Oregon on Saturday.
With six slots up for grabs in each race Kelati and Wolfe led the way as Team USA’s squad took shape to set the scene for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships on January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida. It will be the first time in 34 years that the United States will play host on the world championship level, as intense battles for automatic qualifier slots were on full display at Glendoveer Golf Course.
Kelati would settle for nothing less than victory and crossed the line in 33:45.5 in a statement win with a comfortable 15 second margin. But early in the action, a pack of at least 15 competitors held tight through 2km with Kelati, Katie Izzo and Ednah Kurgat pushing the pace. But by the 7km mark, Kelati opened up nearly a five second lead at 23:25.5 and surged as Izzo began to fade.
The lead opened to six seconds at 30:21.4 at 9km as Kelati was assured a qualifier and the win. After the race she reflected on the decision to dive back into running cross country competitively after building a solid road resume.
Izzo finished second in 34:00.9 while Kurgat took third in 34:09.9.
“I thought that last year was going to be my last cross country race, but when I heard that the World Cross Country Championships were going to be in the U.S., I thought ‘why not try to make the team and represent USA and show the world we can be competitive’,” Kelati said. “I came here to make the team and I’m so happy I did that.”
Wolfe was in a similar situation in the men’s race and appeared composed as part of a large group that began to loosen at 4km as he held a narrow lead at 14:28.4 as the pack trimmed to just five. But by the 6km point at 20:24.7, Wolfe carved out some space ahead of Rocky Hansen as Wesley Kiptoo quickly caught up. With Hansen in control at 8km in 23:25, Wolfe pressed ahead and moved past Hansen, who struggled to close the gap, and took the win in 29:16.4. Hansen finished second in 29:24.8 and Kiptoo was third in 29:27.7.
“After missing out on the Paris Olympics, I’ve been looking to make a U.S. team,” said Wolfe. “This was a fun experience and I’m excited to represent USA.”
Gracie Morris won the women’s 2K in 6:19.4 and Sage Hurta-Klecker was second in 6:22.9 as they will qualify for the mix relay and will be joined by Ethan Strand (5:25.8) and Wes Porter (5:26.5) who took first and second in the men’s 2K.
With six races on Saturday, Team USA’s world championship roster was decided by the top six finishers in both 10K races, top six finishers in the U20 men’s 8K and six finishers in the U20 women’s 6k. A mixed relay was determined by the top two men and women in a pair of 2K races to form a combined relay team.
Women’s 10K Top 15 finishers
Top six automatically qualify
1. Weini Kelati — 33:45.5
2. Katie Izzo — 34:00.9
3. Ednah Kurgat — 34:09.9
4. Karissa Schweizer — 34:16.2
5. Emily Venters — 34:20.7
6. Grace Hartman — 34:25.7
7. Elise Stearns — 34:33.1
8. Allie Ostrander — 34:34.4
9 .Emma Grace Hurley — 34:40.9
10. Parker Valby — 34:48.9
11. Carrie Ellwood — 34:57.8
12. Makena Morley — 35:04.8
13. Elena Henes — 35:10.5
14. Cailie Hughes — 35:10.8
15. Margot Appleton — 35:14.3
Men’s 10K Top 15 finishers
Top six automatically qualify
1. Parker Wolfe — 29:16.4
2. Rocky Hansen — 29:24.8
3. Wesley Kiptoo — 29:27.7
4. Ahmed Muhumed — 29:33.7
5. Nico Young — 29:41.6
6. Graham Blanks — 29:45.0
7. Liam Murphy — 29:59.4
8. Paul Chelimo — 30:14.8
9. Morgan Beadlescomb — 30:15.9
10. Robert Liking — 30:16.1
11. Camren Todd — 30:17.5
12. Sean McGorty — 30:18.8
13. Olin Hacker — 30:32.0
14. Dylan Schubert — 30:33.9
15. Matt Strangio — 30:38.7
U20 Women’s 6K Top 15
Top six automatically qualify
1. Victoria Garces — 21:07.0
2. Daniela Scheffler — 21:20.7
3. Caroline Barton — 21:54.6
4. Abigail Sewell — 22:03.1
5. Norah Hushagen — 22:21.7
6. Avery Marasco-Johnson — 22:28.3
7. Maeve Smith — 22:52.8
8. Lillian Dicola — 23:00.1
9. Arabella Nelson — 23:08.3
10. Macy Hanson — 23:09.8
11. Charlotte Hopkins — 23:14.9
12. Liliah Gordon — 23:27.1
13. Sedona Sweginnis — 24:16.2
14. Taylor Ball — 24:18.2
15. Laura McClary — 24:31.2
U20 Men’s 8K Top 15
Top six automatically qualify
1. Aidan Torres — 25:10.8
2. Tyler Daillak — 25:13.8
3. Daniel Skandera — 25:19.0
4. Salvador Wirth — 25:20.6
5. Dylan Maloney — 25:20.8
6. Juan Gonzalez — 25:22.5
7. Wil Ihmels — 25:43.1
8. Jack Bidwell — 25:45.2
9. Henry Acorn — 25:55.8
10. Isaac Benjamin — 25:56.1
11. Jax Corvin — 26:05.8
12. Eli Fitchen-Young — 26:11.2
13. Zafer Courcelle — 26:23.6
14. Scott Clark — 26:29.5
15. Andrew Burr — 26:32.4
