Baloga, Macchia, Shea and Zealand all return from women’s bronze medal lineup for Americans last year at World Athletics U20 Championships in Australia, along with Mathison from U.S. men’s third-place team, all seeking opportunities to compete again in March in Serbia

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It could be a remarkable reunion Saturday in Virginia at the USATF U20 Cross Country Championships for several athletes who represented the Americans last year at the World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.

Ellie Shea from Belmont, Mass., along with Zariel Macchia of William Floyd High in New York, plus Virginia resident Allie Zealand from Pacers Homeschool, in addition to Northern Arizona freshman transfer Karrie Baloga were all members of the U.S. lineup that captured the team bronze medal in the women’s U20 6-kilometer race in Australia who are expected to compete at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville.

Shea, a two-time Foot Locker All-American, was runner-up last year in Virginia clocking 19 minutes, 47.5 seconds, Macchia took third in 20:04.7, Baloga finished fifth in 20:06.8 and Zealand was later added to the U.S. roster after earning eighth in 20:31.5.

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Kole Mathison, a Colorado freshman, was part of the American men’s team that earned the bronze medal in the men’s U20 8-kilometer final in Bathurst. Mathison finished seventh last year in 24:11.7 at Pole Green Park and was a late addition to the American lineup that competed in Australia.

Mathison is among the entries Saturday in Virginia, along with Berkley Nance of Mills Godwin High in Virginia, a Foot Locker cross country All-American, as well as Wingate-bound senior Isaac Lamprecht of New Kent High in Virginia, plus North Raleigh Christian Academy senior and North Carolina State commit Tyler Surface, all of whom raced last year at Pole Green Park.

The top six competitors in both the men’s and women’s races are eligible to qualify for the World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championships on March 30 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Solomon Holden-Betts, who has been studying in University of College Dublin in Ireland, returns to the U.S. in his pursuit to represent the Americans in Serbia, along with Gonzaga freshman Logan Law, North Carolina redshirt freshman Noah Breker, Cal Poly teammates Bille Issa and Micah Sanchez, as well as Mt. San Antonio College standout Matthew Donis.

Sadie Adams and Maddie Gardiner, teammates at The Covenant School in Virginia, are also expected to race in the women’s U20 6-kilometer final, along with North Carolina State athletes Leah Stephens and Jolena Quarzo, Virginia freshman Gillian Bushee, Georgetown competitors Barrett Justema and Natalie McLean, in addition to Oklahoma State redshirt freshman Lauren Ping.

Gardiner was an All-American at both Nike Cross Nationals and the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, along with Zealand.

Mary Bonner Dalton, winner of the 2-mile race Saturday at the Virginia Showcase and a Notre Dame commit as well as a Foot Locker cross country All-American from Myers Park in North Carolina, is also entered.

Wings of America, featuring Native American athletes from multiple states, will be represented in both the U20 men’s and women’s races.