Spectating at the USA Cross Country Championships

The 2012 & 2013 USA Cross Country Championships took place in Forest Park, about 2.5 miles from my home. I knew about the 2012 race months in advance before completely forgetting to go. For 2013 I briefly entertained the notion of running the community (i.e. non-elite) race, but given the extremely short distance (4K) and my recent training (for a 50K), it wasn’t a great fit. Instead I walked over there today to watch the elite races.

Women

The elite women ran 8K (5 miles), and multiple olympians were in the field.

The women start

The leaders pulled away quickly

Shalane Flanagan and Kim Conley lead for the entire race

Deena Kastor in 3rd

The chase pack

Shalane wins

The race results are here.

Men

The elite men ran 12K (7.46 miles). The announcers made sure to mention repeatedly there were 10 guys who had run a sub-28:00 10,000 meter race. A huge lead pack of about 30-40 runners stayed together through the first 4 laps of 6.

The men start

Big lead pack

Dathan Ritzenhein, Chris Derrick, and Matt Tegenkamp pull away with 4K to go

Chris Derrick, Matt Tegenkamp, Dathan Ritzenhein lead on the last lap

Second Wind runner Jeff Kelly running with the elites

Derrick won, Ritzenhein took second, Tegenkamp took third. The race results are here.