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.
Senior Women – 10km
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……
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